lake, the property owner
should make sure that he owns the right to take such water, and that
the deed of his property does not read "to high-water mark only." The
owner of a property not abutting on a lake has no legal right to
abstract some of the water from the lake by building an infiltration
gallery, or a vertical well of large diameter intended for the same
purpose. On the other hand, an owner may take subterranean water by
driving or digging a well on his own property, and it does not matter,
from the law's point of view, whether by so doing he intercepts partly
or wholly the flow of water in a neighboring well. But, if it can be
shown that the subterranean water flows in a well-defined channel, he
is not permitted to do this. The water from a stream cannot be
appropriated or diverted for supply or irrigation purposes by a single
property holder without the consent of the other riparian owners, and
without compensation to them.

CHAPTER II

=Appliances for Distributing Water=

We have so far discussed only the various sources of potable water. We
must now turn our attention to the mechanical means for making it
available for use, which comprise appliances for lifting, storing,
conveying, distributing, and purifying the water.

The location of the source of supply with reference to the buildings
and grounds decides generally the question whether a gravity supply is
feasible or whether water must be pumped. The former is desirable
because its operating expenses are almost nothing, but it is not
always cheapest in first cost. Rather than have a very long line of
conduit, it may be cheaper to pump water, particularly if wind or
water power, costing nothing, can be used.

_Machines for Pumping_

When it becomes necessary to pump water, there are numerous machines
from which to choose; only the more important ones will be considered.
We may use pumps operated by manual labor, those run by animal power,
pumping machinery using the power of the wind or that of falling or
running water; then there are hot-air, steam, and electric pumps,
besides several forms of internal-combustion engines, such as gas,
gasoline, and oil engines. Each has advantages in certain locations
and under certain conditions.

Of appliances utilizing the forces of Nature, perhaps the simplest
efficient machine is the hydraulic ram. While other machines for
lifting water are composed of two parts, namely, a motor and a pump,
the r