USING WATER 



dwellings are called the plumbing. The word "plumb- 

 ing" is derived from a Latin word plumbum, meaning 

 lead. However, iron and copper pipes as well as lead 

 ones are used for plumbing. Generally iron pipes are 

 galvanized (covered with zinc) to prevent rusting. 

 New lead pipes may form substances which dissolve 

 in water and which are injurious to the human body. 

 When water has been standing in new lead pipes for 

 a while it is best to let the water run at least a minute 

 before using any of it. After lead pipes are used awhile 

 they become covered with a coating that prevents 

 further action of water on them. 



Have you examined dif- 

 ferent types of faucets? 

 Faucets are used to obtain 

 water when we desire it and 

 to stop the flow at other 

 times. Study the diagrams 

 in Figure 110 which show 

 how three common types 

 of faucets are operated. Ev- 

 ery boy and girl should 

 know how to repair a leaky 

 faucet. Directions for do- 

 ing this are given in one of 

 the experiments at the be- 

 ginning of this topic. 



Have you ever noticed 

 that the outlet pipe of a 

 sink, a bathtub, or a wash- 

 bowl is curved like a siphon? This bend in the waste 

 pipe is called a trap (see Fig. 115). Water always 

 remains in the trap and keeps the bad odors of sewer 

 pipes from entering the house through the drain. 



How does water enable us to get rid of sewage? 

 The waste materials from the bathroom, the kitchen, 

 and the laundry are called sewage. The problem of 

 sewage disposal is closely connected with the problem 

 of water supply. If sewage is not disposed of properly 

 there is danger that some of it may get into the water 

 supply and make the drinking water impure. Sewage 

 contains many bacteria, some of which may produce 

 diseases. Typhoid fever germs especially are apt to be 

 present in sewage. 



In rural districts the problem of sewage disposal 

 is frequently left to each individual household. It is 

 very unsanitary to throw waste water, food wastes, 

 or human wastes upon the ground close to a dwelling 

 place. Also the old-fashioned outside water-closet is 

 undesirable. These methods of sewage disposal are 

 especially dangerous if the drinking water is obtained 

 from a well near the dwelling, for the water is likely 

 to become polluted. 



In country homes, not supplied with running wa- 

 ter, an indoor chemical closet may be installed at a 



FIG. 113. STORAGE TANK 

 FOR WATER 



low cost. The wastes are deposited in a large pail that 

 contains water to which is added a small amount of 

 some chemical that kills germs and prevents undesir- 

 able odors. At certain intervals the pail is emptied 



FLUSHING TANK 

 FLOOR 



HOT WATER 

 COLO WATER 



FIG. 114. HOUSE PLUMBING 



into a hole in the ground. The wastes, being largely 

 in liquid state, sink into the ground and are harmless. 

 The old-fashioned water-closet can also be re- 

 placed very cheaply by the dry-earth toilet. In a sys- 

 tem of this kind the wastes are collected in a concrete 



TRAP J 



AIR 

 VENT 



DRAIN 

 " PIPE 



FIG. 115 



vault instead of being deposited in a hole in the 

 ground. The wastes are treated with a small quantity 

 of chloride of lime (bleaching powder) and then cov- 

 ered with sand or earth. This treatment kills germs 

 that may be present and prevents disagreeable odors. 

 The dry contents of the vault can be removed when- 

 ever necessary without difficulty. 



