71 



Water Supplies of Indiana. 



By Charles BROSSiiANN. 



r 



More than 60 years have passed since the first Municipal Water 

 Works of the State v>ere installed at Madison, lud. Since then, inanj'- plants 

 have been erected. Onr complex life and increasing population has neces- 

 sitated new methods of living and caused new demands; the most impor- 

 tant among them beiug good water. At present there are few towns of 

 any size that d') not have public v^'ater supplies. 



In the year 1800 there were about 50 plants in this State and at 

 tlie present time there are over 150 plants. It has not been possible to 

 get infovniation on all jilants, bnt the figures repi-esent a very healthy 

 gro\-\th. The town r>ump and historic oaken bucket are being abandoned, 

 and the more convenient and usiially safer public supply is being gradu- 

 ally adopted. The supplies for pulilic use as a rule are more carefully 

 selected and situated and taken from a source less liable to contamnia- 

 tion than are the individual surface wells of the householder. 



The installation of a water works plant usually is followed by the in- 

 stalling of sewers, which is a great asset to the sanitary conditions of any 

 locality. 



Of the water w(irks here cliarted approximately 65% are well systems, 

 15% river, and the Ijalance springs, flowing wells, lakes, open wells, etc. 

 About 60% of the plauts are municipal plants and the balance operated by 

 private companies. 



The arrangement and nielliod of charting tlie supplies has been under- 

 taken with the liope tliat it may be the start of a more complete investiga- 

 tion and record, and that such contributions or additions may be made from 

 time to time as will increase its value as a water supply record of the 

 State. The autlior's studies in this line have taken into cousideration the 

 mechanical eipiijtment of tlie plants using these supplies, but it is not the 

 intention to go into this part other fhau to show on the map the method 

 of procuring the suliterranean sujiplies^ of water. The map of the State 

 before mentioned sIkjws II, e v.irioiis s^mi'ccs <if suj)i)ly, the method or pro 



