THE PHILIPPINE 



Journal of Science 



A. Chemical and Geological Sciences 

 AND THE Industries 



Vol. IX JULY, 1914 No. 4 



WATER SUPPLIES IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 



By Alvin J. Cox, George W. Heise, and V. Q. Gana 



(From the Laboratory of General, Inorganic, and Physical Chemistry, 



Bureau of Science, Manila, P. I.) 



Five plates 



WATER FOR DOMESTIC PURPOSES 



Previous to the American occupation of the Philippines, no 

 consistent or successful effort had been made to carry on a 

 systematic study of Philippine water supplies or to improve the 

 quality of the water used for drinking purposes. With the 

 possible exception of a small percentage, the eight million inhab- 

 itants of the Archipelago were dependent for their drinking 

 water upon surface supplies, shallow dug wells, open springs, or 

 water courses. The water from the shallow wells was especially 

 dangerous for drinking purposes on account of the common 

 practice of washing clothes around the wells, so that water con- 

 taining disease germs frequently filtered into them. One well 

 was often used by a whole village, and the result of such condi- 

 tions during a cholera epidemic can readily be imagined. During 

 the rainy season some of the more enterprising inhabitants 

 improved their water supply by collecting rain water in cisterns, 

 which, however, in many cases furnished excellent breeding 

 places for mosquitoes. A number of springs of good quality, 

 including hot and sulphur springs having reputations for curative 

 properties, were known and used. There was probably not an 

 artesian well in the Islands. The relation between water supply 

 and public health was seldom considered. 



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