12 A FEW WORDS ABOUT OUR WATER SUPPLY. 



away almost immediately by surface drainage and we still have 

 2,105,600,000 gallons remaining as a source of supply for the wells 

 and springs of the region. This supply would represent a daily out- 

 put of 5,768,767 gallons, if it could he concentrated at a single point, 

 or in other words sufficient to supply 60 gallons per capita y>ev diem 

 to a population of 96,146 persons — about four times the jjopulation 

 at present supplied from it. It should be borne in mind also that 

 we have been very liberal in assuming that half the rainfall escapes 

 by surface drainage, as this water shed is an admirable one for ab- 

 sorbing water. A large part is covered by woodland and meadow, 

 and porous soapstone rock forms the backbone of the hills, while 

 the soil is composed of strata of gravel and sand, interspersed with 

 clay, forming all together a vast storage reservoir for the ground 

 water. This water is struck at various levels, according to the stra- 

 tum of sand or gravel which is reached — the lowest level in regard 

 to which I have any information being at a depth of about 80 feet 

 and immediately above the bed rock. I am pleased to see that our 

 neighbors, the Crystal Water Co., have lately discarded their surface 

 water experiment in the Willow Brook water shed, and have estab- 

 lished themselves in the Clove Valley, where they now draw upon 

 the same sub-surface supply with ourselves. Thus far no apparent 

 diminution in the supply has been noticed, but one effect has been 

 very marked and that is the fact that many springs and wells situ- 

 ated at higher levels than the pumping stations have been completely 

 drained. Furthermore it should be remembered that as a region 

 becomes more thickly populated the demand for water becomes 

 greater and the available supply becomes less. Woodland and mea- 

 dow act as sponges for absorbing moisture and retaining it in the 

 ground, while hard roads, bare fields and house roofs shed' the rain 

 as soon as it falls and hurry it away, by suface drainage, on its jour- 

 ney to tide water. Nor is this the only feature of the subject that 

 demands our earnest attention. Qualify is of even more importance 

 than quantity, and if the former is overlooked in striving for the lat- 

 ter an inevitable tribute is sure to be exacted. The pollution of soil 

 and water is inseparable from man's occupation. Privies, cesspools, 

 household refuse of all kinds, cemeteries, etc., each contributes its 

 quota of contamination. In our case there is no immediate appre- 

 hension, as most of the water is drawn from lower levels than those 



