Milford chronicle., 1932-07-01
WATER SUPPLIES
FOR RURAL HOMES

In discussing safe water supply
for farm homes, the United States
Public Health Service advises that
surface water supplies are most liza
BILE to pollution and are most I'M
satisfactory for farm use. Streams
and ponds, unless protected, receive
the greater part of the surface wash
which in many cases comes from
barnyards and the like. Streams
and ponds located in pastures, man
ured fields, and where stock can
reach them are similarly polluted,
Often sewage and household wastes
are emptied into them or else wash
ed in by rains. There are so many
different ways in which surface
i supplies may become polluted that
such supplies should not be used
for household purposes unless no
other supply is available.
/ Where it is not possible to get
underground waters, cisterns are i'll
common use for the collection and
storage oe iainwater. They should
be of water"tight construction so as
to exclude all seepage and to keep
OUT dust and rodents. Particular
care should be taken to eliminate
the possibility of mosquitoes breed
ing in the cisterns. To withdraw the
water from the cisteTn, the so-call-
ed pitcher pump which does not re
quire priming, should always be us
ed. In no case should the old rope
and bucket be TesOrted to.
Dug wells vary in depth and
diameter, their size depending upon
the availability of water and the
need for it. A dug well should be
cased so as to avoid the possibility
of surface water leaking into it
through the top layers Of the ground
and the casing should extend above
the ground surface so az to form a
water-tight curb. Over that there
should be placed a covering of DUR
able and water-tight material. Con-
crete, brick laid in cement mortar,
or vitrified pipe with a concrete
cover are the most satisfactory for
casing and top covering. In the
case of the dug we'll, the pitcher
pump, which does not need printing,
is also a suitable means of with
drawing the water.
The bored well is usually of small |
diameter and shallow in depth. II |
should be cased with some imperv-
ious material to exclude infiltration. |
The casing should extend above the |
ground surface and there should be |
placed around the top of the casing
a concrete base so that water can
not run back into the we'll along
the casing. A pitcher pump may be
on the concrete base
and drilled wells are quite similar
to the bored well, except in the
method of construction. Ina similar
way they should be protected at the
top against the infiltration of wa
ter. Arrangements should be made
to conduct waste water away from
The general vicinity of the well, and
The proper pump installed.
If it is necessary to take drinking
water from spring, care should be
given to house properly the source
Of the water in an impervious box
through which, however, access can
De had by means of manhole. The
water should be permitted to gather
n this box and flow from it through
/ pipe arranged so that container
AN be placed under it. Care should
,e taken also to ditch around the
pring area so that, surface water
an flow away and not over or into
he spring. Ii
Assuming that there is available
drinking water which is safe in its I
atural state, the initiation of pro- {
er precautions in obtaining that I
'ater and in its protection will in I
ure bringing a safe drinking water l
D the consumer. Persons living in ! J