Did You Know? Water Source

One of the items listed on our children's Family Reports is "Water Source." There is a wide array of possible responses for this one--here's what I've gleaned so far:

Running Water in Home -- Preferred and safest source of water. May be limited (ie, may only run at certain times of the day). Does not necessarily indicate the presence of a shower.

Private Well -- May not be filtered or treated. May be no more than a hole in the ground, covered with a board.

Neighbor's Faucet -- Safety comparable to "Running Water in Home." In cases such as these, the neighbors are typically extended family members, who pool their funds to pay the water bill.

Neighbor's Well -- May not be filtered or treated. May be no more than a hole in the ground, covered with a board.

Community Faucets -- Water is probably treated or filtered. May be quite a distance from the family's home.

Community Pump -- Water may be treated or filtered. May be quite a distance from the family's home.

Community Well -- More likely than private wells to be filtered or treated. May be no more than a hole in the ground, covered with a board. May be quite a distance from the family's home.

Public Storage Cistern

Delivered by Truck in Barrel -- The most expensive method of obtaining water by far. Water is probably filtered or treated.

Nearby Stream -- The most dangerous method of obtaining water. Streams and rivers are usually polluted and/or full of bacteria and parasites that can make our children sick. CI offers classes to educate our children and their families about the importance of boiling their water before consuming it.

CI Sponsor Services Rep Debbie Spring had this insight to share about wells:

"In general, if it's a community well and maintained by the municipality, then it might be treated and therefore better than a stream. If it's a neighbor's or a private well and not treated after it is brought up from the source, then it's about the same as a stream."