August, I9gII 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
The Management of the Water Supply for the Country House 
KS 
mA 
cations and conditions 
where the distribution of 
the water supply through 
the house is a very simple 
matter. Thus, for a house 
located far enough below a 
spring, the distribution can 
readily be effected by instal- 
ling a reservoir between 
spring and house. Gravita- 
tion will do the rest. But 
the combination of such cir- 
cumstances must be only ex- 
ceptional; and even in those 
circumstances the care and 
protection of the water, the 
pipes and the reservoir con- 
stitute a weighty problem. 
Ordinarily, the water has 
to be pumped to the poiut 
from which distribution is 
effected. There are two 
prominent methods of ex- 
erting the necessary pres- 
sure. That best known, 
and to it some reference has 
already been made, is the 
gravity method. This de- 
pends upon the familiar 
principle that “water seeks 
its level.” If there is an 
elevated reservoir, the 
water in the house will rise 
to the same level as in the 
reservoir, and no _ higher. 
If we wish the water to rush 
out of the highest spigot 
with some velocity, then the level in the reservoir will have 
to be maintained at some considerably higher level. Still, 
in order to get velocity we have to provide a certain excess 
"HE very first thing that engages the atten- 
), tion of the country and the suburban resi- 
dent, in connection with his water supply, 
almost if not quite equal importance to 
know just what to do with the water when 
secured. There are, no doubt, certain lo- 
By John F. Springer 
Fig. 1—A brick tower and wooden tank 
height to produce the desired pressure, and an additional 
height to overcome the friction of the water as it flows 
through the pipes and passes the bends. No very simple 
is the water itself. But it is a matter of rule can be given as to this friction; but a great deal of sub- 
sequent annoyance may result where sufficient elevation is 
not secured when the tank is installed. While no simple 
and exact rule can be given, we can get a rough idea of the 
necessary provisions to 
overcome friction by re- 
membering three things: 
(1) The smaller the pipe, 
(2) the longer the pipe 
and, (3) the more turns, 
the greater is the friction. 
The bottom of the reser- 
voir being the lowest pos- 
sible level of the water, it 
should be taken as the level. 
Consequently, if we wish to 
raise water thirty feet 
above the sills of the house, 
the bottom of the reservoir 
should be put higher yet. 
How much higher will de- 
pend upon the velocity de- 
sired, the length and size of 
the pipes, and the number 
and character of the turns. 
It is much better to have 
too high an elevation than 
one too low. Those who are 
accustomed to a smart flow 
of water from the spigot 
will deem it an intolerable 
nuisance to wait for a slow- 
ly moving stream or drib- 
let. It should be borne in 
mind that a single point 
where the diameter of the 
pipe is much reduced may 
have a very considerable ef- 
fect. To sum up, the fol- 
lowing directions may be 
given: Use large pipe, 
have as few bends as possible, make these as round as pos- 
sible, make the length of the pipe as short as can well be, 
and elevate the bottom of the water tank to a generous dis- 
