AIR and sunshine having been assured for all parts of
the house in daily use, the next question must be an
unfailing and full supply of pure water. " Dig a well, or
build near a spring," say the builders; and the well is
dug, or the spring tapped, under the general supposition
that water is clean and pure, simply because it is water,
while the surroundings of either spring or well are unno-
ticed. Drainage is so comparatively new a question, that
only the most enlightened portions of the country con-
sider its bearings ; and the large majority of people all
over the land not only do not know the interests involved
in it, but would resent as a personal slight any hint that
their own water-supply might be affected by deficient
drainage.
Pure water is simply oxygen and hydrogen, eight-ninths
being oxygen and but one-ninth hydrogen ; the latter gas,
if pure, having, like oxygen, neither taste nor smell.
Rain-water is the purest type ; and, if collected in open
vessels as it falls, is necessarily free from any possible
taint (except at the very first of a rain, when it washes
down considerable floating impurity from the atmosphere,
especially in cities) . This mode being for obvious reasons
impracticable, cisterns are made, and rain conducted to
28 DBAINAGE AND WATEB-SUPPLT.
them through pipes leading from the roof. The w^i^^
has thus taken up all the dust, soot, and other impuri^Je-'^
found upon the roof, and, unless filtered, can not be consid-
ered desirable drink. The best cistern will include a filter
of some sort, and this is accomplished in two , Vaj^s.
Ji^ither the cistern is divided into two parts, the water
being received on one side, and allowed to slowly filter
through a wall of porous brick, regarded ^^J many as an
ampl}' sufficient means of purification ; or a more elabo-
rate form is used, the division in such case being into
upper and under compartments, the upper one containing
the usual filter of iron, charcoal, sponge, and gravel or
sand. If this water has a free current of air passing
over it, it will acquire more sparkle and character ; but as
a rule it is flat and unpleasant in flavor, being entirely
destitute of the earth}^ salts and the carbonic-acid gas to
be found in the best river or spring water.
Distilled water comes next in purit}^, and is, in fact,
identical in character with rain-water ; the latter being
merely steam, condensed into rain in the great alembic of
the sky. But both have the curious propert}^ of taking up
and dissolving lead wherever they find it ; and it is for this
reason that lead pipes as leaders from or to cisterns should
never be allowed, unless lined with some other metal.
The most refreshing as well as most wholesome water
is river or spring water, perfectl}^ filtered so that no pos-
sible impurit}" can remain. It is then soft and clear ;
has sufficient air and carbonic acid to make it refreshing,
and enough earth}^ salts to prevent its taking up lead, and
so becoming poisonous. River-water for daily use of
course requires a S3'stem of pipes, and in small places is
practically unavailable ; so that -wells are likel^^, in such
DRAINAGE AND WATER-SUPPLY. 29
Page 12
Presented as published in 1881. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
AIR and sunshine having been assured for all parts of the house in daily use, the next question must be an unfailing and full supply of pure water. " Dig a well, or build near a spring," say the builders; and the well is dug, or the spring tapped, under the general supposition that water is clean and pure, simply because it is water, while the surroundings of either spring or well are unnoticed. Drainage is so comparatively new a question, that only the most enlightened portions of the country consider its bearings ; and the large majority of people all over the land not only do not know the interests involved in it, but would resent as a personal slight any hint that their own water-supply might be affected by deficient drainage.
Pure water is simply oxygen and hydrogen, eight-ninths being oxygen and but one-ninth hydrogen ; the latter gas, if pure, having, like oxygen, neither taste nor smell. Rain-water is the purest type ; and, if collected in open vessels as it falls, is necessarily free from any possible taint (except at the very first of a rain, when it washes down considerable floating impurity from the atmosphere, especially in cities) . This mode being for obvious reasons impracticable, cisterns are made, and rain conducted to
28 DBAINAGE AND WATEB-SUPPLT.
them through pipes leading from the roof. The water has thus taken up all the dust, soot, and other impurities found upon the roof, and, unless filtered, can not be considered desirable drink. The best cistern will include a filter of some sort, and this is accomplished in two ways. Either the cistern is divided into two parts, the water being received on one side, and allowed to slowly filter through a wall of porous brick, regarded by many as an amply sufficient means of purification ; or a more elaborate form is used, the division in such case being into upper and under compartments, the upper one containing the usual filter of iron, charcoal, sponge, and gravel or sand. If this water has a free current of air passing over it, it will acquire more sparkle and character ; but as a rule it is flat and unpleasant in flavor, being entirely destitute of the earth}^ salts and the carbonic-acid gas to be found in the best river or spring water.
Distilled water comes next in purity, and is, in fact, identical in character with rain-water ; the latter being merely steam, condensed into rain in the great alembic of the sky. But both have the curious property of taking up and dissolving lead wherever they find it ; and it is for this reason that lead pipes as leaders from or to cisterns should never be allowed, unless lined with some other metal.
The most refreshing as well as most wholesome water is river or spring water, perfectl}^ filtered so that no possible impurity can remain. It is then soft and clear ; has sufficient air and carbonic acid to make it refreshing, and enough earth}^ salts to prevent its taking up lead, and so becoming poisonous. River-water for daily use of course requires a system of pipes, and in small places is practically unavailable ; so that -wells are likely, in such
DRAINAGE AND WATER-SUPPLY. 29