1905.] 



Hints on Water Supply. 



147 



contained, hydraulic pumping-engine, which, once set in motion, 

 needs little or no attention. It should be set up in a specially 

 built brick pit, near to the stream that is to feed it, and at such 

 a level below the bed of the stream, as will give to the drive 

 pipe a fall or " head " from the stream to the ram, of at least 

 2 ft. ; the greater the head the greater will be the efficiency of the 

 ram, but with a fall of even 2 ft. water can be lifted to any 

 reasonable height in any direction through iron or flexible 

 pipes. 



It is important to observe that surface streams are always 

 liable to pollution or fouling, from one cause or another, and 

 that unless the water is taken direct from the source, and that 

 source carefully guarded against contamination, the water 

 should be filtered or otherwise purified before use for domestic 

 purposes. Boiling is to be recommended, but as this is incon- 

 venient where large quantities are used, filtration by the readiest 

 means at hand has often to suffice. A very good filter can 

 be made of any suitable receptacle, such as a tank or water- 

 butt, on the bottom of which should be laid fairly large pebbles 

 or broken stones to a depth of 6 in., then, over this, a 6-in # 

 layer of coarse gravel ; over this, 9 in. of fine gravel, and finally 

 a layer of clean sharp sand to a depth of 10 or 12 in. A top 

 layer of about 3 in. of fresh sand added from time to time 

 will keep the filter in good working order throughout the 

 season : but it should be thoroughly cleansed and fresh material 

 provided at least once a year. The water for use should be run 

 off from the bottom of the filter by means of a draw tap or 

 syphon into another vessel kept for service purposes. 



Rain-water catchment as a means of supply should in no 

 case be neglected. Proper means of arresting the rain which 

 may fall upon the roofs of farm buildings and houses, may, 

 during the present season, mean all the difference between 

 some water and no water. First of all, the rain-water gutters 

 and stack-pipe hoppers should be thoroughly cleansed, and 

 any defects repaired. Two tanks should be provided ; one, 

 having a rain-water separator to take off the first rush of dirty 

 roof water, being fitted as a filter as above described, with 

 an overflow into the second and much larger tank, which should 

 be placed at a lower level. The second, or service tank, can 



N 2 



