THE COUNTRY HOME [CHAPTER 
Many veins of saturated shale will be touched that 
supply mineralized water, and you may decide as to 
whether these will be acceptable for your house 
supply. One of my wells gives me a strong flavor 
of sulphur — too strong at some seasons for table 
use. Another well gives me a strong taste of 
iron, with a slight taste of sulphur. 
Having a drilled well, or any other thoroughly 
safe supply of water, it should be invariably carried 
directly into the house. If it be from a flowing 
well, or from a pure spring, pumping will not always 
be necessary; but in most cases a force pump must 
be attached to your kitchen sink, or to a basin of 
marble or iron, in some convenient corner of the 
room. Drainage from the basin should be con- 
nected with the general waste pipe, so as to assist 
in carrying off the refuse or the greasy water of the 
sink. The pipethat conveys the water through the 
soil and into the house should be of iron, and the 
connection should be carefully looked after. Too 
much precaution cannot be taken against lead pipes, 
or against lead at the joints. Removing lead pipes , 
from my own well — purely from a sanitary point 
of view — some years ago, I employed a plumber 
who cemented the joints of the iron with a soft red 
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