Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-09-29
THE SEWAGE PROBLEM.
An IEFEREsTIBG CONSIDERATION OF
TIE PNEUMATIC SYSTEMS.
Advantages of the shone Method over
that Of the Liernur. and It's
adaptation to Our Eeeds

cusbeu inc E6latlFe advantages OF dumping
sewage and that of applying it to lands.
Some points considered in an unpublished
portion of the report are of special interest
in the present discussion of this subject for
application to the needs of this city. In
it the question OF sewage works, as well
a. sewage disposal, are treated of, and the
Shone pneumatic system, which City En-
giueer Bassett proposes for our adoption,
Is strongly advocated.
Mr.. Hall says, II reference to the ques-
ton of sewage removal, that whether
sewage is to be mingled with the
waters Of the river, or be used in irriga-
ton, the engineering question as TO means
OF economical and efficient movement of
the sc wage remains to be considered as a
distinct proposition. This problem re-
solves itself, he says, into two parts. First,
the collection Of the sewage, and, second,
the transmission of 1t TO the outfail, no
matter where situated. The movement OF
sewage matter is effected IN three ways (s)
by natural gravity flow; tb) by direct me.
chanical com onlsion lDumping), or (c) by
indirect mechanical propulsion pneumatic
pressuFe).
After a discussion of the gravity flow,
and pumping systems, as applicable locally
at the site for which the report was writ
ten, the following review Of the pneumatic
systems OF sewerage is given:
THE PNEUMATIC SYSTEMS OF SEWERAGE.
As pro9elling agent atmospheric pres.
sure is uGii'ssd TO transmit power in two
ways ~ The normal pressure of the at.
mosphsre TO iu a 9arifed space % the
expansive pressure Of compressed air in
seeking TO establish an equilibrium with
the surrounding atmosphere. The first of
these are called vacuum processes; the
second pienum processes. The Liernur
sewerage system is vacuum process, and
the Shone sewerage system Is a plenum
process.
By the LieTDur system the sewage Is col
lected from neighborhood of half dozen
to dozen blocks, TO locally central tank
by exhausting the air from that tank and
then opening in succession the valves of
tine drain pipes which come from different
subdivisions of the local neighborhood,
thus permitting air to rush in from the
outside atmosphere through the pipe,
and carrying with it the sewage matter.
The collection Of the sewage being thus
effected, it is removed by similar dumpage
wherever desired; or in place of the
wheeled tank a main pipe leads from each
local tank to q larger central tank, into
which the sewage Is drawn by the creation
OF a partial vacuum therein, as in the case
of drawing it from the neighborhood houses
TO the local tank, and so the sewage from
all the local tanks about a town is thus
collected ia at central station, there to be
disposed of as may seem best fitting
When this system has been adopted the
sewage Is generally treated chemically in
the central tanks, the solid matter made
into manure, and the clarified liquid
passed away 20 some stream or other out
fall.
Il VIII be seen from the foregoing that
the Liernur system Is essentially collect
ing system. There must always be tank
at the Outfali end of the pipe, wherein to
create the partial vacuum and draw the
sewage matter by atmospheric pressure
from the other end Of the supply pipe -
whether the pipe comes from the house
where the sewage matter is produced, or
from i local tank where it has been COL
lected-so the general central tank, where
treated for destruction. The System must
then always be combined with some other
system for the ultimate disposal of the
liquid sewage. When collected it must be
conducted away by gravity to its ultimate
outfall, OF must be forced, artifeially, away
to like point Of disposal.
THE saoNE SYSTEM.
By the Shone system of sewerage the
sewage matter 10 collected into local tanks
or electors $50 called, as in the case of the
Liernur system, from small Deighborhoods
of 3 few blocks, by gravity flow in ordi-
nary sewer pipes, and is thence forced
away through isTgeT pipes to any desired
point Of outfall, or to a central tank and
thence 10 the entail point by the pressure
OF com pressed air behind it, This system
is much the simplest and cheapest in con-
struction and economical of management,
and is best adapted to effect the ultimate
disposal of the sewage; and, in my judg-
ment, 10 the least likely TO fail in detail of
operation.
Both systems require the creation of
power at central station-the one by rari-
flying the atmosphere in large receiver or
tank, the other By COMPRISING air in a
similar, but, to effect the same work, a
much smaller tank. In the case OF the
Liernur system, the pressure of one atmo-
sphere only can possibly be had while in
the Shone system air may be compressed
to the pressure Of half dozen or more at.
mospheres and thus utilized.
In the Liernur system, special appliances
have 30 be introduced in connection with
each house drained, and an air.tight iron
pipe must lead thence to the local tank /;
while in the Shone system the collection to
the local tanks is effected by the ordinary
sewer pipes, there being no peculiar sp-
pliances needed blt the valve at the end
of each at the local tank. In the Liernur
system the operation Of collecting is effect
ed only by the intervention of attendants.
whose duty it is to go around and success.
sively turn on and of the connections be.
tween the different houses and the local
tanks while by the Shone system the
collection goes on by natural flow from the
houses to the local tanks without the in
PREVENTION of attendants.
In both the Iiernur and the Shone sys-
TENS local tanks nave to be provided. In
the case of the Liernur these tanks and
valves mast be almost absolutely air tight,
otherwise the loss OF power would be great
in proportion TO the amount possible TO be
acquired from the atmospheric pressure.
While IN the case Of the Shone system the
reserve of power may be 80 much in excesu
of the amount needed that the works need
not be nearly 30 perfect in construction
and delicate in operation.
In both systems central stations are
necessisated, where power is to be gener.
sted either from steam or water power
machinery in the case of the Liernur
system, by the Tarefaction of the atmos-
phere in the large receiver or tank and in
the case Of the Shone system, by compress.
ing air in the similar tank. Here again
the Shone system has the advantage, for
air-compE ssing machinery does not have
to be as perfect and delicate in make as
machinery to produce vacuum.
In both systems special air pipes have to
be laid from the central power station 20
the local neighboring tanks-in the case
of the Liernur system to withdraw the air
from the tanks IN order that they NAV in
turn draw the sewage from the buildings
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