, 1881-03-06
An interesting Conversation g. on
the Ventilation, OF Sewer
Mains:
And Its Necessity to an Absolute I'm
munity from the Dead *
ly Gas.
Very Bad Sewerage in a Flournoy Block
Of Teuements.
SEWER VENTILATION.

Its NECESSITY TO PUBLIC HEALTH.
As THE TRIBUNE Health Commissioners were
being !eisurely hauled westward yesterday on q
Van Buren street car, the Iny member said to
his professional brother:
There is one other question, Doctor, regard
Ing the ventilation OF the sewer-mains that ]
forgot to ask about the other day. It fs this:
What further effect, If any, does ventilation
have besides diminishing the pressure Of sewer
gas within the tile drain? Will such system OF
ventilation rs you then described prevent the
watcr-closcr from beng syphouedY'
Yes. In nine-tenths Of oil the houses IN
| Chicago where they have water-closets, syphon-
ing both can and may occur. In fact, 1t may
happen when the conditions are favorable With
the most improved closets. Syphonlug Is due,
first, to the uon-ventation Of the street mains,
which. when full Or partially filed often creates
vacuum within the tile-druins and thus
causes sufficient suction to draw tho water from
the soii-ptpe, which condition in itself favors
syphoninX whenever and wherever vacuum is
thus crcutcd: as before described
"Iheu, do understand you to say that II the
soil pipe Is NOT ventilated and the perforntions
In the several man-hole covers are stopped or
ciogged up, that syphoning Of the water-closets
in that immediate neighborhoOd may OCCUR ut
any Eas nmez, r..
~ But would not tho suction SO induced: also
draw tue gases from the tiles into tho main
YES, momentarily it would; hut Immediate
~ following vent would DO given, and there
the apartment, and before the closet was
aKa!a used, and the trap was again
filled with water or the soil-pipe was again
properly sealed, the quantity might be great
enough in tho apartment to prove exceedingly
nofsUne,"
''1n the vicinity of some OF the wnter-closets
examined We have found hot-atr registers Or
steam- pipe fittings. and In these instances we
have frequently noticed the presence OF sewer
eas in apprcciahIe qnunttties. Why, Doctor,
here more than elsewherc?'
Because. usually, the soil-pipe in these sew
eral Instances Is inclosed on three sides by Il
brick WALL the fourth side being covered by
wood. through which inciosure. from the tile
below,
TIE GAS Is DRAWN
BY the increased temperature Of the apartment
In these insMnces referred to we have found
either that the cement around the soil-ppe at
its juncture with tho tile-dratn WIS cracked. a
common occurrence when Joined above ground,
or else that the closet was syphoned. 4 heated
water closet should not be tolerated within tho
house unless tho soil.pipe Is properly ventt-
*'Well, here Is another source Of annoyance.
In ono house visited the entire system Of sewer
nge seemed to bc absolutely perfect, as did also
was most noticeable In and about tho surface
catch-basin, but into which no manner OF house
sewage apparently drhined. How did you ac-
count for the presence Of sewer-gas there:"
In the case referred to the water IN tho
catch-basn was backed up from tho main sewer.
4 portion OF it had probably stood stagnant in
tho tile, absorbing the gases FROM the main.
and when the thaw came it was backed up into
the catch bnsiu.'
- Would tbs happen IT the, soil-.plpo were in
every instance properly yenttlated!' .
40. Thorough ventilation Of the sewerage
system, mains, tile-drains. soti-pipes> etc, is
i'm mincnt!y necessary Ia Chicago, and it is some
thing that will have to be done before we have
perfect immunity from the dangers Of sewer
rus.h