The Dickinson press., 1916-03-18

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disorders. 1t may also contain o
siderable poisonous matters in solu-
ton. A polluted water supply is evil
dence Of the existence Of bad sanitary
conditions. which it is Of the utmost
Importance to remedy. On the other
hand, many waters that are not clear
cannot be regarded as unclean nor
their use prejudicial to health. Many
surface waters have a greenish or
brownish tint from vegetable stains,
and mineral waters frequently impart
more or less color to spring and ground
waters. In some cases such waters
instead Of proving harmful to health
have proved to be decidedly beneficial.
With the growth of population and
development of industries there is pro-
gressive pollution of streams. so that
in the more thickly settled regions
streams not already contaminated or
subject to pollution are very rare. Sur
face water supplies from small streams
should never be used for household
purposes unless no other supply is
available. In the event that it must
be used such water should be clear
and should be thoroughly boiled.
The we'll is the most commonly used
source of farm water supply. 1t may
be a shallow dug or driven we'll or a
deep dug or bored well. 1t may be
said. however. that the majority Of
shallow dug wells on farms where con-
tamination is present are contaminated.
The government sanitary engineer
offers the following practical sugges-
lions for keeping different types of
wells, especially shallow wells. from
needless pollution:
Obviously the logical first step in Sc
curing a clean we'll water supply on the
farm or anywhere else is to remove all
the sources of possible contamination.
Among the worst of these are the open
privy vault. the teaching cesspool and
barnyard filth. A we'll in ordinary per
vious soil located lower than and with
in a hundred feet Of any of these is al
most certain to be polluted. Even
though the well is located on higher
ground than these sources of contami-
nation, heavy pumping or dry weather
may so lower the ground water level
that it will reach the zone Of contami-
nation and thus pollute the well. 1t is
evident, therefore. that the open privy
vault and teaching cesspool should be
discarded and a sewage publication
system or at least a sanitary privy be
used instead. Sewage. garbage. ma
nure or other waste should never be
dumped into sinks or assures and most
certainly never into old abandoned
wells. An old well used for this pur-
pose is very likely to communicate d.
rectly with the water bearing stratum
from which other wells in the imme-
date vicinity draw their supply. Stops
or waste water should never be thrown
out of the back door or window on to
the ground. If the pigs and chickens
must run at large they should at least
be kept away from the we'll. A box
built around the pump and filled with
manure in winter is an extremely un-
safe way to prevent the pump from
freezing. "
Concrete manure pits. impervious
floors and water tight drains are desir-
able features for farm buildings. If
these are beyond the farmers purse
the manure pile should be placed a safe
distance away from the well.
The we'll itself should be located as
high as possible with respect to build
ings. stock pens and chicken yards and
as far away from ali sources of con-
Elimination as convenience and local
surroundings will permit: