HOME ANT) FARM MAGAZINE SECTION
THE FARM WATER SUPPLY
By T. D. Beckwith, Bacteriologist, Oregon Agricultural College.
MONG tae factors which keep us
n neaitny, or which, if not carefully
guarded, may cause sickness, noth
ing is of greater importance than the
lauuiy water supply. This is especially
true on farms, for it is sonerallv found
that municipal water supplies are purer
wan individual wells, due to caro in
construction and to watchfulness in
v guarding them. Our bodies arc over
ne-naii r.ater, and it is of the most
Tital importance that this water which
must be continually replenished be
pur. If, in tho course nf vnta it
becomes contaminated with disease
germs, then one who drinks such water
may contract the disease caused by the
particular kind of disease germ which
is in we water.
It should be understood that water is
never impure insofar as bacterial or
germ content is concerned, unless there
is some source of contamination to
produce SLh results. Almost all dis
ease are produced by certain kinds of
. germs and these germs never generate
spontaneously, when water is impure
therefore it is an indication that there
is some outside source from which the
. imparity is being derived.
Classification of Wells.
Wells may be divided into two classes,
namely deep wells and shallow wells!
This difference does not depend so much
ob the fact that the bore is of such
fepth. from the top to the bottom, but
rather by "deep well" is meant one
whieh passes through some impervious
i stratum or layer of soil or rock and taps
a subterranean water supply Such watte-
has been brought for a considerable
distance under ground. Since such soil
formation docs not allow direct percola
tion from the surface the water which
is obtained from such a well has slowly
passed through tho soil for miles in
many instances. By "shallow well" is
meant one which is sunk merely a very
little beloi tho levol of surface water,
known more teehinedly as the "water
table," and into this bole so constructed
water from the near vicinity is allowed
to seep. Water found in such a well,
therefore, has come from the immediate
neighborhood and almost always from
within a radius merely of a few feet.
It thus follows that water which is
found in deep wells will bo quite thor
oughly filtered from any bacterial con
tamination which may have been in it.
Watcrfrom snallow wells, since it has
been filtered hrough comparatively , a
few feet rather than miles of soil, may
De lughly contanunat d. Because of
the fact that deep w-lT water has per
colated through much soil it will have
had more opportunity to dissolve out
certain soluble minerals, and, therefore
is likely to be harder than water de
rived from shallow wells. In consider
ation of the above facts, if a deep well
be properly cased so that seepage can
not gain entrance through the sides by
means of a leaky joint or a rusty hole,
water from such deep wells may be
expected to be disease free.
Dangerous Shallow Wells.
Much difficulty is found with the
so called shallow wells. These many
tines are merely holes dug in the ground
irto which seepage of all kinds finds
its way fr.m the adjacent soil. In a
Jarge percentage of cases no attempt is
made in construction to keep seepage
water outside of the well either by use
of an iron pipe, by concrete construction
or brick wall set in mortar. Many farm
ers believe that the only way they ean
obtain a sufficient water supply by
using the shallow well is to allow water
opportunity to enter through the sides
by seepage.
. It should be understood that water in
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Business College
Broadway Building, Portland, Oregon.
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Before September 1, 1914.
a shallow well will be puro only when
it has been filtered through considerable
soil. Contamination generally finds its
way into the water which is just below
the surface of the ground, and the soil
below this level removes such contain
ination. It follows therefore that the
logical point of entrance for water into
tho well w at he bottom and that in
digging and constructing such a well this
point should be borne in mind. In order
that tho water shall not bo roily as it
comes into tho well at the bottom one
snould place a few inches of coarse
sand or fine clean gravel at the bottom
of tho hole. From the abovo discussion
it will also be recognized that in order
to keep out seepage from the sides of
the well the well must be thoroughly
and tightly walled up by some method.
As one stands by tho sido of an old
well on a hot summer day and listens
to the continual dripping of the water
as it trickles down the sides of the
well from the surrounding soil it may
remind one of a clear and purling
spring. But under no conditions should
one allow the poetry of the feeling to
overcome him. It is very likely that
such trickling is produced by the wa
ter seeping in from some near-by toilet,
septic tank or kitchen sink.
Curbing Around Well.
In order that in case of heavy rains
or possible flood the water may not flush
over tho sides of the well hole and wash
down into the bore it is also important
that a curbing with embankment be
placed around to divert such water and
also to prevent the direct return of wa
ter pumped out from the well, and
which in maiiy cases is allowed to run
off from the platform into the soil a
few inches from the well and which
from thence seeps directly back into the
well hole. The return of such water to
t.e well is just as dangerous as tho re
turn of any other surface water to en
ter the well.
It is important also to remember that
a tight cover must be placed over the
well. It is better also if this cover is
made of two courses of boarding, one
laver placed at angles with the other in
order than when wear occurs and cracks
form, the holes, which will eventually
be produced, may not allow solid matter
or other kinds of contamination to fall
directly through them into the water
below. Such a cover also will keep
frogs out and many kinds of insectf
which deposit their eggs in the water
or on the sides of the well, and the
larvae of which pass through the first
stage of their life in water. It is un
pleasant to pump up tadpoles, earth
worms, and insect larvae of various
kinds in the water. It must be remem
bered, too, that where the opportunity
is given for such comparatively large
a limals to find their way into the wa
ter it is a very simple matter for plants
as small as germs to find their way
also.
The water from the well should be
clear and not too sparkling, and unless
it is in a locality where sulfur com
pounds are naturally found in the soil,
one should always view with suspicion
the so-called "sulfur water." It is
worth rememberng that ns organic mat
ter decomposes in many instances it
gives off the same gas that is indicat
ive of rotten eggs and that is therefore
called "rotten egg gas." Sulfur in
this form is an indication of contamina
tion and very many of our so-called
'sulfur water wells" ae pools of filth
as shown by laboratory examination.
Also as organic matter undergoes bac
terial decomposition it gives off a gas
called carbon dioxide. This is the same
gas that is used under pressure to give
the Bparkle and fizz to soda water, and
while a small amount is normally pres
ent in all water if there be sufficient
to produce sparkling, then there is a
possibility that tho sparkle is caused
by rotting organic matter which in turn
indicates contaminated water. A clear
water is not a pure water under all
conditions by any means.
Contaminated Water.
As before stated water will not be
contaminated with disoase germs unless
there bo disease germs In the immediate
vicinity, which in turn may contamin
ate such water. Therefore it naturally
follows that not all water found in bad
ly constructed wells is contaminated
with disease germs. The danger, bow-
ever, in the use of Buch water, lies in
the fact that it is impossible for any
human being to tell how soon contamin
ation may find its way to the near
vicinity of such wells, and in turn find
its way into the water. It is only an
ordinary measure of wfety, so to con
struct the well that the chances of con
tamination may be as few as possible;
then the water will bo kept puro even
though there be some cause for con
tamination not far away. Ou very many
farms we find -fever of various kinds
appearing annually, and upon careful
examination we find that it is produced
by drinking wator. The germs ars
taken into the body and produce tho
discp.se. The materials from the body
during such disease pass to tho familj'
toilet and from thence tho genus find
their way into the well. This slow pass
age of the bacteria from the toilet or
septic tank to well may require some
times as long as one year so that during
the next season tho water being con
taminated carries a recurrence of tho
disease. The most important American
diseases which may be carried in water
aro typhoid, dysentery, diarrhoea and
summer complaint. It is not intended
that the reader shall understand that
these diseases are carried by the water
alone, but the statement is made that
one of the most important agcecici
bringing' about such dissemination is
the family water supply.
College Records.
The records of tho Aericultural Col
lege show that the water of fully one
half of the shallow wells in the stato is
contaminated with sewage germs. There
fore, it is rnfit for human consumption.
If one is in doubt as to whether or not
the water supply in his particular well
is safe, he may readily have it exam
ined by using a clean bottle of about
four ounces capacity and a cork, boil
ing them both carefully for ten or fif
teen minutes. Water should be pumped
from the well until one is certain of not
obtaining a sample which has been
standing in the pipe. The spout of the
pump should be clean and the hands of
the one taking the sample should have
been washed just previously with strong
soap Buds and water. Handle the bot
tle just as little as possible before tak
ing the sample. The sample taken aa
outlined above may be sent to the State
Board of Health at Portland, or to tho
Bacteriology Department of the Agri
cultural College for examination. These
tests are made free for citizens of the
State of Oregon.
TYPICAL ANDERSON BUNGALOW
Are 700 coming to Portland! Why not
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it to you on easy terms, and rent it for you.
tor almost enough to meet your payments
until you are ready to occupy it.
I hare four Bungalows that MUST be Bold
regardless of cost. My loss, your gain.
Write me for description and location.
' TONY 0. ANDERSON
S28 Chamber of Commerce Bldg.
Portland, Oregon.
$60.00 A WEEK AND EXPENSES
That's the money you should get this year. I mean It. I want
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I'm positive absolutely certain you can get bigger money in
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I KNOW IT1
TWO SALES A DAY 1300 A MONTH
That's what you should get every month. Needed In every
home badly wanted, eagerly bought. Modern bathing facili
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r -v
'
gjasjw-1 DEMON.
8TEATINO
yW rURNISHED
H. 8. ROBINSON
President
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BUSH & LANE POLICY
FROM
FACTORY TO HOME
No one has ever solved the problem of getting bet
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A dealer must purchase from the manufacturer. House of Originality
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A fair value for your old Piano or Organ in exchange.
Satisfaction or Money iietunded.
i
Bush & Lane Piano
M.K 'TATABTTrWOTOW HTTMVET
Portland. Oregon. .A a.0'
MANTJF AC TUEERS
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