Story: Sewage, water and waste

Backyard well (1st of 3)

Backyard well

Before town water supplies were introduced in the late 1800s and early 1900s, collecting water was a daily chore for many people. Some fed water from their roofs into wooden barrels. In places groundwater was close to the surface and wells could provide water. Wells in cities were often polluted by seepage from the cesspits under outhouses.

Courtesy of Kāpiti Coast District Libraries.

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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: 1/2-057636; F

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Christine Dann, 'Sewage, water and waste - Water supply', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/24435/backyard-well (accessed 28 April 2024)

Story by Christine Dann, published 11 Mar 2010