The record-union., 1891-05-27

QouDL that the alurnina process properly
worked would so cleanse the Sewage as to
render IT'S discharge into the river quite
admlssaDle without fear of its creating
any nuisance either to manufacturers or
riparian proprietors."
MANSERGH ADDS
That as far as possible surface from extra
urban areas ought To be kept out of the
sewers IN the precipitation process as also
that falling on roofs. But here, whatever
falls within the catchment area of Sacra-
mento must be got out again, and if 1T has
TO be lifted out anyhow, since we, cannot
flow 1T off, its exclusion will cut no figure
with us except to dilute the sewage. But
it is possible to compel at small cost, all
our clean surface waters to flow to point
of disposal Independently of the sewers.
That this should be done at once, how
ever, no one contends. Just how much
of figure the dilution in winter by sur
face waters will cut in the operating cost
OF chemically treating the whole sewage,
is a subject upon which we are not pre-
pared now to speak. But the resultant
benehts to the city of chemical treatment
III the matter of putting an end to the
storing OF poisonous waste in the soil of
the lots OF the city, will thousand times
compensate.
CHARACTER OF WORCESTER SEWAGE.
Mr.. Allen took up in due order the
which has many large factories using
acids and iron salts. Analysis was made,
ana while the tables are too voIuminous
10 present here, let us say that they prove
worcester sewage to be ten times worse
IMAM that OF sacramento because OF inor-
ganic salts in it. 1t was proved that in
all chemical precipitation an alkaline
sewage is necessary. So Worcester sew
age had to be treated to turn acid into
alkaline sewage. As that does not con-
| 'front.' us III Sacramento we pass ii, saying
only that sulphate OF alGmina and lime
water are the two chemicals used, with
sometimes little Sulpnate OF iron.
Mr. Allen came 10 the conclusion also
| that II The new syStem-chcmica preciDi-
tatioh-were adopted that storm water
must be separated from sewage He
showed how that could be done, Just as
we Will have to do in Sacramento until
we are rich enough to build intercepting
sewers.
THAT Is TO SAY,
In storm-water flows we must run the
drainage into a separate pit and pump it
Into the river. When storm waters
cease we resume the flow into settling
tanks. Eventually, however, we will do
as W orceSter is doing, place intervening
sewers OF iron pipe to carry the Cry
weather How, allowing storm waters to
take the general sewers in storm weather.
/
our manholes and make gutter drains,
with alterations, carry storm waters until
we can provide better plan-that is if
the cutters can be MADE TO drain uni
! formiy to the outlet of sewerage without
changing the grade of streets already
hXed. Upon this we venture no settled
| opinion, except to say that as to some few
OF the streets, the side surface drain can
| be easily arranged.
ESTIMATES.
The estimates OF cost of the sys-
tenn with interceptiug sewers and
chemical precipitation were So, 775S 10.
| For chemical precipitation works alone
$4,000, with ID per cent. added for con-
I tingenci6s. There were added, also, esti-
mates for two filtration areas, but these
Will not enter into the Sacramento plan.
at least we would need but a small filtra-
/ ton plat, since precipitation will su1li-
GENTLY purify the sewage and give US an
efliuent that can be
DISCHARGED INTO THE RIVER
Without injury to that stream or any
riparian owners. Mr.. Allen, let il be
remembered, Was presenting two plans.
not advising the adoption of both; but
the possibility of both at some time being
adopted was considered. 1t is to be borne
in mind, also, that while Sacramento
would not have to convey her sewage
hall mile, perhaps not over a quarter of
a mile, to precipitation works, Worcester
had to take hers a long distance away,
! beyond some outlying villages in her
suburbs.
CHEMICAL PRECIPITATION
Having thus been advised by Mr.. Allen
as the result of all his study and travel,
he gave these reasons for his report: l.
That the etfiuent would be within the
law forbidding contamination Of the
river. Z. The plant would be cheaper
| than that for irrigation or downward in
termittent filtration. g. That climatic
conditions will not affect the process.
4. That there will be no water loss. 5.
| That the system admits of adding posi-
BILE improvements without material
change of the plant.
THE RESULT AT WORCESTER.
In 1888 the city of Worcester, which is
three times the size of Sacramento.
adopted Mr.. Aliens plans for chemical
precipitation, and in June, 1890, the
| works were opened for operation. In
the mean time the city went on building
sewers and drains and preparing perma-
nent improvements. 1t expended for
the publication works SCI ,544 Oh. The
( Joint Committee on Sewers, reporting 10
| the City Council November SO, 1890, said
it was well pleased with the work.
Though to that date only portion of the
city sewage had been taken by the works.
the plant is ample to take it all, when the
delivery of it all can be made, for the
waters Of Miilbrook have to be separat ed
from the sewage system. Ia Sacramento
we have no such problems before us, but
simply
PLAIN SEWERS LEADING DIRECT
| To the works we may construct, say at
the foot of Y street. Worcester has now
1853 miles of sewers, including the out
fail sewer of the publication works, with
y II i ~ ! L
IS probable that by the time Worcester
has her publication works to suit her she
will have expended on them 100000, and
for such city with its numerous manu-
featuring interests that is by no means a
large sum. We come now to the final re-
port OF Engineer Allen, after the cree
ton OF the publication works.
PROOF OF THE PUDDING.
So much has been said of the whole
scheme that 1t will not be necessary TO go
into detail as to that report to great ex-
tent. Before taking up this report, how
ever, let the RECoRD-U MON acknowledge
its Indebtedness to Mr.. Allen for the ofli-
cial reports from which these facts have
been drawn. Mr.. Allen begins by say
ing that the sewage disposal works are
completed and that the result is
entirely satisfactory thus far, and will
continue to be when all the sewage of the
city has been brought to the works for
treatment The condition of the Black
stone River has already greatly i'm
proved. (If weudo not err Alillbrook,
into which Worcester has been draining,
is tributary OF the river.
IT BEGINS.
May IA, 1888, the Council ordered the
outfall sewers to be constructed. 1t in
tercepted MiIlbrook in Miilbury street.
1t Is forty-two inches in diameter and
| has fall of six inches in 900 feet. Run
ming full it will carry 1900, 900 gallons in
twenty-toGr hours. far in excess of the
DrPSpnt need of the city lint