4 6 



SCIENCE OF HOME AND COMMUNITY 



The conclusion to be drawn is that the well should be 

 located so far from possible sources of impurities that there 

 will be no danger of pollution. This distance varies with 

 different conditions, such as kind of soil, the slope of the sur- 

 face and of the rock strata, and the depth of the well. In 

 general, however, the well should be a hundred feet from 

 sources of impurities. If the slope of the surface is toward 



FIG. 13. Danger of having cesspool and well too near together. 



the well, the impurities are more apt to find their way into 

 it. But even when the surface is level, the slope of the rock 

 strata beneath may slant toward the well. 



The well 'should be so constructed as to prevent surface 

 water from draining into it. The top portion should be 

 bricked down for six feet so as to be water-tight, and a casing 

 of cement or brick should be raised about a foot above the 

 surface. The covering over the well should be tight to pre- 

 vent any impurities from falling through. A trough should 

 be provided under the pump spout to carry off the overflow 

 when the pump is used. Care should be taken to see that 

 dirt is not tracked on to the well covering. 



