CHAPTER VII. 



THE FARM WATER SUPPLY. 

 TANKS, DAMS, AND WELLS. 



If the new settler has not been sufficiently fortunate to locate 

 himself where there is a permanent supply of pure fresh water, one 

 of his first duties will be to provide this, both for himself and his 

 stock. Soaks are not infrequently found, and, if opened out, may 

 provide sufficient for moderate needs, and, in the south-west, springs 

 capable of affording a domestic supply are not uncommon. Though 

 these may do for the time being, there is nothing like having a 

 permanent and plenteous supply of water, and this must either be 

 obtained from wells, tanks, or dams, or from all three combined. If 

 it is decided to put down a well, unless the settler has some 

 practical knowledge of what he is about to undertake, he had much 

 better have the work done by contract by an experienced well- 

 sinker, either by the day or by the foot. It is not an easy matter 

 for an amateur to put down, and brick up and finish off a well 

 properly, especially where quicksand or a liberal supply of water is 

 struck and rushes into the well freely. In the sandy country along 

 the coast, water is invariably struck at very shallow depths, and 

 these wells require no skill to put down. They may be slabbed up 

 to prevent the sides washing in, and the work is quickly and 

 effectively done by anyone with a little common sense. When the 

 roofs of the house and outbuildings are of iron, either galvanised 

 iron tanks, or underground or overground brick tanks should be 

 provided to conserve the rain water. Even with an adequate 

 supply of well water it is always advisable to have a tank or two of 

 rainwater in reserve. It is not unusual for wells to become con- 

 taminated, either by the subterraneous springs that fetid them 

 washing out an alkali pocket in their course into the well, or by 

 drainage of impurities from the surface. One cannot be too careful 

 about the water one drinks, and every precaution should be taken 

 to ensure a plenteous supply of pure water for this purpose. 



Overground brick tanks are in every way preferable to under- 

 ground ones. They are as cheap, or cheaper, to construct, they are 

 less liable to contamination, they are more easily cleaned, and the 

 water is more readily drawn from them, and if a leak should occur 

 it is more easily detected, and more quickly stopped. 



Water for stock may be conserved either by dams built across 

 the bed of a stream, or in tanks excavated in the ground. Wells 

 mean lifting the w r ater, and this is a laborious and costly process 

 which should be avoided if possible, if many head of stock are kept. 



