Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-08-25
PURE WATER AND
HOT WEATHER
(By DR.. John w. Duke, state Health
Commissioner

Commissioner)
The last half of August and some
times the first few days in September
is the period when the water supply
problem often is serious one in
many Oklahoma communities. Some
places are fortunate enough TO be
provided with a deep well firm which
pure water can be drawn at all times
of the year regardless of weather
conditions Most of the large cities,
however, and many of the smaller
communities must depend for a large
proportion, If not all. of their water
on rivers and other streams. When
the long. hot, dry spell sets in this
supply not only runs very low, but Is
in danger Of contamination. There
probably is no other single factor
upon which the health of a communi-
ty depends more than the purity of
the water supply. No reasonable pre-
caution which would insure this pur-
ity should be neglected II is a ques-
tion which concern severy citizen,
both as an individual and as a mem
Der of the community.
There is room for more active
public opinion in many OF our towns
and cities, and public opinion which
will insist that the local authorities
do all in their power to provide an
abundance of pure water. OF course
this depends fundamentally upon the
source OF supply and the question Of
expense, but money can scarcely be
expended to more practical purpose
by a community. In addition, public
opinion should insist that officials
use forethought and prepare for
emergencies, such as dry weather or
floods. emergencies which experience
has shown are certain to occur. In
addition. much can be done toward
purification of the water supply by
chlorination and other well known
methods. But If the citizens of a
community are careless and indif-
ferent on this vital question they
must expect their officials to take
the same attitude.
In addition to the precautions
which may be taken by the communi-
ty as a whole, there are precautions
which the individual can take. They
are worth taking. Unless the water
is pure there is always danger of ty-
phoid, and typhoid is a most serious
disease. Even when the results are
not fatal it means long. serious and
expensive illness. Many intestinal
troubles, serious, but less dangerous
than typhoid. are directly due to inn
pure water. 1t is great factor in
the infant death rate. The individ
ual is reckles and foolhaTdy who neg
lects any precautions because they
involve a certain amount of trouble
and expense.
+ In the first place each household
er should know the quality of the
water used in his house. Where
spring water is used, little inquiry
will show it's purity, for nearly every
company has had its water tested be-
fore ii is put on sale. A city chemist
can always give an opinion on the
purity of the general water supply.
Where there is any question of doubt
water should be boiled before drink
ing. Filters have some value but can
not be trusted to keep out the minute
micro-organisms which produce ty-
phoid and kindred diseases.
There is need, in this State for
law giving the State Board of Health
more extended powers over the water
supple sof the State. In this way not
ony could better protection be af-
forded a given community, but city
of town would be protected from hav-
ing its health imperiled by the ac-
tin of some other city or town. All
plans for extension of water supply
or sewage disposal systems should
be made dependent on the approval
of the State Board of Heauth. Only
in this way will consistent, syste-
matte protection of the health of Ok
lahoma as regards the water supply
| be possible.
The general problem of the purity
of the water supply for Oklahoma is
bound to grow more serious as the
population of the State increases. If
public opinion is once aroused to the
importance of this question there
will be a demand for prompt and
thorough action. Delay means dan
ger to the people of Oklahoma, a
danger which will tend to increase
year by year as our cities grow and
our rural communities become more
| thickly settled.