March, 1907 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



9 — Green Bog-oak Is the Trim of the Hall 



upon the soil and country which surrounds it. Rivers that pass 

 through crowded cities are unsuitable sources of water supply, 

 but the water at their heads is markedly purer than that near 

 their mouths and approximates spring water in purity. The 

 waters of lakes and ponds are loaded with mineral constitu- 

 ents. Both spring and deep well water are regarded as very 

 palatable and seldom contain bacteria unless specially pol- 

 luted. Wells for domestic purposes must be deep driven in soil 

 free from impurities and placed far enough away from all 

 sources of contamination to be wholly free from their influ- 

 ence. Artesian wells are well known sources of water supply, 

 and if driven deep enough are independent of sub-soil im- 

 purities by which ordinary wells are chiefly affected. 



Water is rarely pumped direct from the 

 sources of supply to the distributing 

 agencies within the house, but must be 

 stored in reservoirs if large quantities are 

 desired, in cisterns or tanks if smaller quan- 

 tities suffice. Reservoirs are lined with 

 brick; cisterns are made of cement and 

 slate. Neither mortar nor metals should 

 be used in either case, the former giving up 

 lime to the water. The size of the cistern 

 will depend on the amount of water to be 

 stored, the size of the house, the number of 

 persons living in it, and the availability of 

 the water supply. 



Natural waters being impure sanitary 

 science has given great attention to their 

 purification. This may be concerned with 

 its physical, chemical or biological state. 

 I'hus turbid water may be made clear; wa- 

 ter may be deprived of its mineral impur- 

 ities and it can be rendered practically free 

 from harmful bacteria. Various methods 

 are employed for this purpose. 



Many streams and lakes are self-purify- 

 ing. While this is often accomplished to 

 a very extraordinary extent it is by no 

 means universal in its results and can not 

 always be depended upon. F'iltration is 



regarded as a much more safe and efficient 

 method, and in one form or another is now 

 regarded with great favor for all municipal 

 plants. It not only removes particles 

 suspended in the water, but diminishes the 

 organic matter and bacteria in the water. 

 Several methods have come into general 

 use. 



Sand filtration is now largely practised. 

 A continuous filter is used when the water 

 is passed through the filter continuously 

 and is advisable when the water is highly 

 polluted. Intermittent filtration must be 

 employed when the water is highly polluted 

 and the flow of water can be interrupted 

 from time to time. The larger part of the 

 purification process in a sand filter is carried 

 out on or near the filter surface. 



Several forms of mechanical filtration 

 are also in use and depend on the passing 

 of large bodies of water through limited 

 sand areas, chiefly under considerable pres- 

 sure. Iron or alum is used as a coagulant, 

 precipitating the suspended matter and bac- 

 teria. Small filters of this sort are some- 

 times used for household purposes, and 

 have also been employed for large plants. 



Household filters are used either for the 

 whole of the house supply or that used for 

 cooking and drinking purposes. They should have suflUcient 

 purifying power to restrain all suspended matters, remove 

 dissolved organic or deleterious matter and arrest micro- 

 organisms and be able to accomplish these purposes in a rea- 

 sonably lasting manner; the filtering medium should yield 

 nothing to the water; the delivery should be good and as 

 rapid as efficient purification will permit; the apparatus must 

 be constructed so it can be readily taken apart, examined and 

 cleaned, and it should not be subject to decay. The best of 

 domestic filters require frequent cleaning and careful 

 watching. 



Other methods of water purification include distillation, 

 boiling and treatment with chemicals. 



10 — Dining-room is Tiimmed with Oak, and the Fireplace Has 

 Faience Tiled Facings and Hearth 



