THE CUBA REVIEW 



21 



THE WATER SUPPLY OF CUBA 



The census of 1S99 indicate the sources of wuter supply for the population of Cuba, and the 

 proportion secured for each one hundred inhabited houses. The figures as compiled bv 

 Sir Rafael J. Fosaeba, in an article on the infant mortality of Cuba, and printed in the Julv- 

 August numbers of Sanidad y Beneficencia of Havana follows: 



From From From From 



Provinces: Aqueducts Cisterns Springs Rivers 



PinardelRio 0.83 33.8 1.9 63 5 



Habana 3S . 47 . 2 2.2 126 



Matanzas 13 . 7 78 . 2 1.1 7 



Santa Clara 9.5 55 . 13 . 7 22 2 



Camaguey 0.19 55 . 6 20 . 6 23 6 



Oriente 13.9 18.1 5.6 62.0 



Since this census was made aqueducts have been liuilt at Trinidad, Santiago de Cuba, 

 Pinar del Rio, San Luis, Cienfuegos, Caney and Palma Soriano, which have beenln operation 

 for 12, 9, 7, 5, 4, 2 and 2 years respectively, and in latter times the water supply system of 

 Havana has l^een extended to neighl^oring towns. 



At present there are aqueducts in process of construction at Jaruco, Guines, Caibarien 

 and Remedios, and others are projected for Consolacion del Sur, Vinales, Cabanas, Bejucal 

 San Jose de las Lajas, Guira de Macurijes, Union de Reyes, Colon, Cit}^ of Santa Clara', Rancho 

 Veloz, Santa Domingo, City of Camaguey, Songo, Mayari and Jamaica. 



These details, taking into account the increase in population, prove that there has been 

 no great improvement in the general available water supply since 1899, and that at least one- 

 third of Cuba's population drink river water. 



River water is naturally a fruitful source of tji^hoid fever, as in general no attempt is made 

 to keep the water supply free from contamination. The distributing system in several in- 

 stances are of the most rudimentary character, consisting mainly of a dike across the stream 

 diverting the water to the intake pipe. The river receives the detritus of the surrounding 

 farming lands, with animal refuse and other poisonous matter. 



It was also discovered that in the Piu'ir del Rio district where ths water pipe had been 



River San Cristubal in Pinar tk'l Rio Province, near the town of that name. 



