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Show Contamination of Deep "Wolls. By a series of experiments which proved how readily deep wells and springs could experience pollution, tho town of Quitman, Georgia, has doubtless doubt-less been saved from the dangor of an epidemlo of disease. In this place tho water supply of the city is derived from wells, and In planning a sewerage system sys-tem it was proposed to dlsposo of tho public sewage by discharging through a borehole into an underground stream. Tho possibility that contamination might result, however, was early suggested, sug-gested, and led to practical experiments bolng undertaken by tho United States Geological Survey, and tho Geological Survey of Georgia, in order to determine deter-mine "the matter definitely. Two tons of salt wero placed in the well whore It was planned to empty tho sewage, and the wator from tho various wellB which had been previously examined, especially as to their chlorlno contents, was again analyzed, samples being taken at intervals during and sometimes some-times after th5 experiment. It was found that the salt had permeated all of the wells in the town, demonstrating oonoluslvely that disease germs could bo readily communicated to tho drinking drink-ing water. Thcso experlmonts nro in line with somo carried on in Europe several years ago, where It was found that bacteria, placed In certain wolls, could bo detected at other sources of water In tho vicinity, and emphasizing the lmportanco of carefully examining and safeguarding water supplies under all conditions. Harper's Wcokly. |