CHAPTER IX 



SOIL PHYSICS, WATER SUPPLY, AND SEWAGE 

 DISPOSAL 



THE VALUE OF WATER 



526. Man's Dependence upon Water. When we read nowa- 

 days that "a house has modern conveniences" it means that 

 it is, not only provided with modern appliances for lighting 

 and heating, but also that the house is supplied with water and 

 suitable plumbing for the disposal of sewage. This is especially 

 true of city houses and is becoming more and more true of 

 country and farm houses. While we may be quite comfortable 

 without having the water piped into the house, we must have 

 a sufficient supply of wholesome drinking water close at hand. 



A supply of wholesome water is much more important to 

 man than is artificial light. It is also true that in all but severe 

 winter weather and in the colder portions of the country, man 

 can endure much longer without artificial heat than he can 

 without water to drink. Persons deprived of water soon 

 become crazed by thirst, and unconsciousness and death come 

 much sooner than they do when caused by hunger. 



527. Man Has Always Recognized His Dependence upon 

 Water. From the earliest antiquity, man has recognized the 

 importance of securing an ample supply of wholesome water. 

 Most of the great cities and nations of the past have been lo- 

 cated upon rivers or lakes containing fresh and wholesome 

 water. If the natural water supply was not sufficient, great 

 AQUEDUCTS were built to bring a supply from a distance and 

 huge RESERVOIRS, were constructed to store a supply in times of 

 plenty. Some of the greatest structures erected by ancient 

 man were these great stone aqueducts and reservoirs (Fig. 277). 



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