Municipal water supplies are usually secured from rivers, lakes, springs or wells. Surface streams are usually the supply for the larger communities and these bodies of water are replenished by moisture reaching the drainage area in the form of rain, snow, hail, dew, frost and similar forms. It seems desirable, but usually not practicable, for a water works to own its entire water shed. A large percentage own practically none of the land on which the precipitation falls and only a few plants own the entire drainage area above their intake. The latter are usually in mountainous sections. The situation in some cases is controlled by the water works authorities leasing the water rights on the shed. The health and comfort of mankind are directly influenced by forests and pure water supplies. The latter in most cases cannot be obtained without the former. The prevention of pollution of water supplies is the problem confronting all water authorities. This condition has been much aggravated by the general use of the automobile which has brought the population to the most remote spots in recent years. Excreta from a typhoid fever patient may find its way to a stream, and there may be other contamination from farm buildings, etc. all of which so often result seriously. If it is the desire of the authorities to serve the public with water without extensive filtration and sterilization, the entire area over which the rain and snow collect must be owned by the water works or managed solely in its interest, assuming of course that the water shed is inhabited or not exempt from pollution. Since it is found impracticable to own or control directly the entire catchment area, it becomes desirable to prevent as much as possible the pollution of the main streams. The control of the land directly bordering on these streams and regulation by appropriate acts