The Supply and Uses of Water 



209 



indicated by the health statistics have not been without influence 

 upon smaller communities throughout the land. Many places 

 have installed purifying systems, and, they claim later, the 

 typhoid fever rate per year has been greatly reduced. It is 

 now one of the most popular arguments advanced to secure 

 needed improvement of the water supply. 



The following data (Fig. 62) on water supply and the typhoid 

 fever rate in several communities in New York State are taken 

 from the bulletin published by the New York State Department 

 of Health in January, 1913. Your own community may be 

 similarly studied with the aid of data afforded by the Health 

 Department records. 



FIG. 62. Typhoid fever rate per 100,000. 



The data presented in this table may not prove conclusively 

 that improvement in the water supply is followed directly by 

 a decrease in the typhoid fever death rate. The connection, 

 however, is close enough to support the general belief that safe 

 water must be supplied in the interest of public health. Fil- 

 tering and storage systems are necessary to prevent the dis- 

 tribution of water which may be accidentally contaminated 

 by disease germs, even though the watershed may not be 

 occupied for human habitation and the water is considered safe. 

 Clear, odorless, and tasteless water may be fatally loaded with 



1 Water filtered after 1889. 



2 New and improved filtration after 1910. 



3 Violations ordered removed 1908 ; note since then decrease in rate. 



4 Water filtered after 1896 because of epidemic. 



6 Improved supply and filtration since 1909 with use of chemicals. 

 6 Strict patrol of watershed since 1907. Note low rate generally and de- 

 crease for 1910-12. 



