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CHAPTER IV. 
WATER SUPPLY OF THE TOWN OF BELIZE. 
The sources of supply consist for the most part of rain water, well water 
being used to a very limited extent for washing purposes, watering cattle and 
gardens. The drinking water is almost wholly furnished by rain water and is 
collected in various receptacles, amongst which the following are most frequently 
encountered. 
Vats. — The regular cistern consists of a very large wooden vat holding some 
2,000 gallons and covered with a loose fitting lid raised a few inches above the 
level of the top of the vat to allow of aeration. The rain-water from the roof is 
conducted to the cistern by means of a gutter of variable length. In some 
instances there is an overflow pipe, but more usually the cistern overflows at the 
rim when full. The cisterns are the same as used in the Southern States, and 
are obtained from New Orleans and Mobile. (See figures 5, 6, 24.) 
Many of them are in considerable disrepair, the lids being broken and the 
upper ends of the staves warped and separated from one another. Many of them 
also contain a very considerable sediment made up of leaves, fruits, and remains 
of animal matter. 
Or. Harrison, Assistant Colonial Surgeon, is of opinion, from his examina- 
tion of the lots throughout the town, that not 50 per cent, of the population are 
provided with vats. In our examination we found that in 836 lots there were 
present 489 wooden vats and 271 large iron tanks — figures which bear out 
Dr. Harrison’s experience, as many lots had two or more tanks or vats. 
There are 18 public vats with a storage capacity of 1,869,848 gallons. 
Tanks . — In our inspection of 836 lots we found large iron tanks present 
271 times, that is, they are about half as numerous as the wooden vats. Their 
capacity varies, an approximate estimate is about 500 gallons for wrought iron 
and 1,000 gallons for cast iron. 
The lid of the iron tank is very much smaller than in the case of the wooden 
vat, and simply consists of a manhole. We found them unscreened and contain- 
ing much debris. A very considerable proportion of the wrought-iron tanks had 
fallen into absolute decay and were perforated with numerous holes. In our 
examination they appeared to us to contain less larva; than the wooden cisterns. 
1 think, however, that they are more objectionable in many respects than the 
wooden cistern. They are very difficult to mend, and w'hen worn out, unless 
broken up, they will harbour larvae. In certain instances the cast-iron vats were 
covered with wooden and some with corrugated iron roofs. These, we found, 
contained a considerable amount of decaying animal matter. 
Wells . — There is a limited number of wells in the town. There are public 
wells which are used fpr washing purposes, washing horses, and for purposes of 
fire. They are not screened. In addition to these we found 91 small shallow 
wells in the 836 lots which we examined consisting merely of a hole or of a 
barrel sunk in the ground. They are not covered, the water in them is dirty and 
