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5 [1] When three *lugim* of drawn water fall into a *mikveh* - whether from one *k'li* or from two or three *keilim* - they can be combined to reach a quantity that disqualifies the *mikveh*, provided the water begins descending from the second before it concludes descending from the first. If descends from four *keilim*, the water from them is not combined.
When does the above apply? When one did not intend to increase the amount of water in the *mikveh*. If, however, one intended to increase the amount of water in the *mikveh*, even if a *dinar*-size measure was added each year, they are all combined to reach the sum of three *lugim*, whether the drawn water was present there before the acceptable water, the acceptable water was present there before the drawn water, or they both fell into the *mikveh* at the same time. Since three *lugim* of water fell into 40 *se'ah* combining with the acceptable water to reach that amount or into less than 40 *se'ah* of water, the entire amount is invalidated and considered as drawn. [2] When two people each poured a *log* and a half into a *mikveh*, or one wrung out his garment and lifted it up, causing the water it contained to fall from several places, it invalidates a *mikveh*. A similar ruling applies when one pours from a distributor that causes water to pour from several places at the same time. [3] When one immerses a pillow or a cushion of leather into a *mikveh* that has exactly 40 *se'ah*, when he lifts their edges out of the water, the water inside of them is considered as drawn water.
What should he do? He should immerse them and lift them up by their ends. With regard to a basket and a sack, he should immerse them and lift them up in the ordinary manner without showing any concern. [4] The following law applies to a *mikveh* that had three pockets of drawn water with a *log* in each of the pockets and then acceptable water fell into it. If it is known that 40 *se'ah* of acceptable water fell into it before the water reached the third pocket, it is acceptable, If not, it is disqualified. [5] When there are two *mikveot*, neither containing 40 *se'ah*, a *log* and a half fell into each one of them, and then the *mikveot* became mixed together, they are acceptable. The rationale is that neither one of them had been designated as unacceptable.
If, by contrast, three *lugim* of drawn water fell into a *mikveh* that does not contain 40 *se'ah* [of acceptable water and afterwards, it was divided into two, even though enough acceptable water was added to each one to constitute an acceptable *mikveh*, they are invalid. The rationale is that whenever a *mikveh* is disqualified, all of its contents are considered as drawn water. It is as if all of the water had been drawn with a container. [6] When a cistern is filled with drawn water and a canal of rainwater flows into it and out of it, it is still considered as unacceptable until it can be calculated that not even three *lugim* of the drawn water that originally was in the cistern remain.
When three *lugim* of unacceptable water fall into a *mikveh* containing less than 40 *se'ah* of acceptable water, all of its contents are disqualified. Even if afterwards, he added enough acceptable water until the measure of 40 *se'ah* is reached, the *mikveh* remains invalid until all the water that was contained within it flows out and less than three *lugim* of the drawn water remain.
What is implied? A *mikveh* contains 20 *se'ah* of rainwater and a *se'ah* of drawn water fell into it. Afterwards, more acceptable water was added to it. It remains unacceptable until one knows that the 20 *se'ah* it originally contained and more than five and a quarter *kabbin* of the added water flowed out and less than three *lugim* of the entire quantity remain. Similarly, if one made a *mikveh* that contains 40 *se'ah* of acceptable water and joined it to this invalid *mikveh*, the acceptable water purifies the unacceptable water. [7] If one was moving mud from the bottom of the *mikveh* to the sides and, as a result, three *lugim* of water flowed into the *mikveh*, it remains acceptable. If one was removing the mud and lifted it up by hand, separating it from the *mikveh* and placing it on the *mikveh's* sides and three *lugim* flowed into the *mikveh* from it, they disqualify it. [8] When a legion is passing from one place to another - or similarly, an animal is passing from one place to another - and three *lugim* of water was splashed into a *mikveh* by their hands and feet, it is acceptable. Moreover, even if they made a *mikveh* in this manner initially, it is acceptable. [9] When a *mikveh* does not contain 40 *se'ah* and less than three *lugim* of impure, drawn water fell into it, the water is acceptable with regard to *challah* and *terumah* and one may use it for the ritual washing of hands. It is, however, invalid to be used as the base for the collection of water for an acceptable *mikveh*. If rainwater descended upon it to the extent that the rainwater constituted the majority of the mixture, the mixture is acceptable to be used as the base for the collection of water for an acceptable *mikveh*.
When three *lugim* of impure, drawn water fell into it, the water is unacceptable for *challah* and *terumah*. One may not use it for the ritual washing of hands, nor may it be used as the base for the collection of water for an acceptable *mikveh*. If rainwater descended upon it to the extent that the rainwater constituted the majority of the mixture, the mixture is acceptable with regard to *challah* and *terumah* and one may use it for the ritual washing of hands. It is, however, invalid to be used as the base for the collection of water for an acceptable *mikveh* until all of the original water that became considered as drawn flowed out and less than three *lugim* of it remained.
Similarly, if there was a *mikveh* that contained only a *dinar*-size measure less than 40 *se'ah* and three *lugim* of impure, drawn water fell into it, the water is unacceptable for *challah* and *terumah*. One may not use it for the ritual washing of hands, nor may it be used as the base for the collection of water for an acceptable *mikveh*. If less than three *lugim* of water fell into it - even if the water was all impure - and then a *dinar*-size measure of rainwater fell into it, causing it to comprise a complete measure of 40 *se'ah*, it is acceptable. Just as it is considered as pure with regard to immersion, it is considered pure in every respect.
Version: Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007
Source: https://www.nli.org.il/he/books/NNL_ALEPH001020101/NLI
License: CC-BY-NC