CHAPTER XIX 

 THE WATER SUPPLY IN DRY AREAS 



When the home seeker is desirous of locating in the 

 semi-arid country he should not do so until he has ob- 

 tained some information with reference to the nature 

 and extent of the possible and probable water supply 

 for household use, and also for such live stock as it may 

 be necessary to keep on the farm. Unless water from 

 some source is obtained in reasonable supply, it is not 

 possible to build a permanent home. 



The scarcity of water. The fact should be recog- 

 nized that the water necessary for the various uses of 

 life and for live stock is less plentiful than in humid 

 areas, at least in very many instances. In the very 

 nature of things it cannot be otherwise, because of the 

 relatively light character of the precipitation. But the 

 mistake should not be made that there is an exact rela- 

 tion between the degree of the precipitation and the 

 degree of the water supply. Especially is this true of 

 subterranean waters. These are found plentifully in 

 some localities, and not far distant from the surface, even 

 where the normal precipitation is very light. 



In the search for water, as by boring or drilling, 

 the results obtained are exceedingly variable in the 

 same general locality. In one instance good water and 

 in fairly liberal supply can be obtained within, say, 20 

 to 40 or 50 feet of the surface. In other instances water 

 may not be obtainable in proximity to the former at a 

 depth of 500 to 600 feet and even at a greater depth. 

 Homesteaders, therefore, should be slow to conclude that 

 because attempts made to obtain water have failed it 

 cannot be obtained. 



There are two principal sources of ground water. 

 These are from precipitation which falls in the form of 



