Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-11-21
Keep Water Supply
From Contamination

Tnero - scripturai authority tor the
statement that bitter waters and
sweet do not now from the same
fountain. The same truth applies to
wells on the farm. The family that
uses . we'll or spring subject to con-
tamination In almost surely destined
to taste the dregs OF sorrow or suffer-
ing for having drunk Its disease laden
output. Investigations made by tho
United States department OF agricul-
ture indicate that only small minor
lily OF farm water supplies can DO
classed AZ unQualifiedly safo and de-
sirable. On the average three out OF
four farm wells are located within
seventy five feet Of q back door OF tho
house and In tho direction Of the barn
yard.
That convenience and first cost. no.
safety. have been the deciding factors
in such cases Is made evident by tho
nearness of barnyards, pig pens. pas
lures. fertilized fields, sink drains.
privies,- cesspools. and areas render
ed insanitary by chickens, slops. and
other filth. Too frequently tho seep-
age from these and other sources. aft
er Joining tho ground water. moves to
wells and springs. impairing the water
supply by impurity that may be gross
ly poisonous. y
Sewage Disposal.
Popular indifference to tho effective
disposal Of sewage has existed 80 long
and SO universally that only within
comparatively recent years has II been
NtoA ~
human life Is poison and must be kept
from the food and drink Of man. From
the specific germs or poison that may
be carried in sewage at any time there
may result typhoid fever. tuberculo-
sis. hookworm disease. cholera, dysen-
terry, diarrhea. or other dangerous all
ments. and 1t Is not improbable that
certain obscure maladies may be trac-
ed eventually to the poisonous effects
OF drainage from human waste. The
poison Is invisible to the naked eye
and 1t may be carried by many agen-
cies by devious routes, and be unsus-
pectingly received into the human
body. Typhoid fever Is peculiarly a
rural disease, and many instances
clearly indicate serious neglect Of re-
sponsibility with regard to sanitation
by people who live in tho country.
Not to dispose OF sewage promptly
invites nuisance. but not to dispose OF
sewage clearly and completely invites
disease. 1t Is not enough that human
filth is taken so. rs, 100, or $50 feet
away from u wen or spring. or that 1t
is taken merely to lower ground. Civ
en- loose or open subsoil.- seamy ledge.
~ lbs, - nj n
of ground. the zone OF contamination
is likely to extend and readily may
reach quite distant wells, especially at
such times as well waters are lower
ed by drought or heavy pumping
Whatever the system Of sewage dis
posal. 1t should be entirely and widely
separated from the water supply, and.
II possible. the surface Of the sewage
in any leaky privy. vault, or cesspool
should be lower than the lowest water
in any nearby well. The United
States department of agriculture has
prepared separate No TIP. from its
1916 yearbook. entitled, Sewage Dis.
posal on the Farm" which gives de-
tails regarding various type OF OUT
houses. suggestions regarding plumb
ing, cesspools, septic tanks, and relat-
ed subjects. This pamphlet will be
mailed free on request.
Pure, Easily ObtainabIe Water, Needed
One Of the first and obvious needs
Of American farms Is pure water sup
plies. From the standpoint Of the
housewife, second only in Importance
to purity, is the installation Of a water
system in the farm house that will
save labor.
Continued pumping will not improve
water In a well If the sources which
feed 1t are permanently at fault. Wells
can not be located in all cases to be
wholly free from pollution. but the
greatest safeguards are clean ground
and as wide separations as possible
from the probable channels Of impure
drainage.
Water for domestic use should be
clear, lustrous. odorless. colorless
wholesome, soft. neither strongly acid
nor alkaline, and its temperature for
general farm purposes should be about
so degrees. These characteristics
however. are never proof OF purity
for a glass Of water may possess them
all and yet contain millions Of disease
producing germs.