X, A, 2 Heise: Water Supplies in the Philippines 147 



closed for no better reason (to themj than an arbitrary order 

 from the authorities. There was no laboratory available for 

 water examination and no persons to do such work, so the arrival 

 of our small portable outfit proved of assistance to the local 

 health authorities. The character of the wells may be inferred 

 from the fact that although the investigation was conducted 

 during the dry season the wells, almost without exception, 

 showed evidence of pollution on a single examination. 



The tvest coast of Cebu. — For the most part the inhabitants 

 of the west coast of Cebu are still dependent for their drinking 

 water on rain-water cisterns and on surface wells, many of 

 them brackish. There are a number of excellent springs, but 

 many of them are not conveniently located and have not yet 

 been developed, and many are not cared for at all or are so 

 poorly safeguarded that their water supply is not above suspicion. 

 Doubtless many towns could install small municipal water sys- 

 tems at moderate cost, deriving their supply from springs in 

 the vicinity. 



The attempt to improve the water supply by means of deep 

 wells has not met with unqualified success. At Barili and Moal- 

 bual drilling was continued to 22-5 and 300 meters, respectively, 

 but only salt water was encountered. At Toledo the experience 

 has been more fortunate. Boring has been continued to 55 

 meters, and potable water, under sufficient pressure to rise within 

 3 meters of ground level, has been developed. However, one of 

 the Toledo wells turned brackish within the last six months. 



The towns of Asturias and Balamban are dependent in a great 

 measure on surface supplies and rain water, although there are 

 excellent springs in the vicinity which could be developed for 

 municipal supply. 



The east coast of Cebu. — In addition to Cebu itself, the towns 

 visited in the course of the trip along the east coast of Cebu were 

 Talisay, Minglanilla, Naga, Carcar, Sibonga, and Argao. All 

 of these, except Carcar and Argao, are almost entirely dependent 

 on rain water and surface supplies. In Minglanilla, it is true, 

 there is a large spring, which, although unfortunately located 

 with respect to surface drainage and showing a suspiciously 

 high bacteria count, probably yields the best water available 

 in that district. The Argao well furnishes good potable water 

 from a depth of 150 meters, but unfortunately only comparatively 

 few of the town people use it exclusively. There are two deep 

 wells in Carcar, one owned by the railroad, the other by private 

 individuals, both of which furnish water which is chemically 

 satisfactory. 



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