The record-union., 1894-02-12
CONCERNING SEWAGE DISPOSAL.
A Topic That is Just Now of Moment
to SacramentanS.
Four Different Modern Systems De-
scrIbed, aud Their Applicability
to Local Needs.

the following paper on sewage DIS
posar' has been prepared by David Fal-
coner, who has given considerable study
to the subject. Mr.. Falconer describes
four different latter-day methods for dis
posing of city sewage, and as the subject
is one tha: now engages the attention OF
the City Trustees and citizens generally,
his treatment of the subject should be OF
interest to the public.
THE WORCESTER SYSTEM.
AS the disposal of our sewage ana a
modern sewerage for our city are begin
ming to receive merited attention from
our City Trustees, what has been done
and the progress made in other cIJles may
help us to better understanding of our
own needs.
That our present primitive mode OF
sewage disposal can be continued IS out
OF the question. The city has been found
guilty of maintaininga a nuisance, and 1t
certainly cannot be called a sewerage sys-
tenn which simply dumps our clty's
waste and sludge at our neighbor's door.
In planning sewerage system the
first consideration should be to have the
system apply to or fit the city-what II
absolutely reQuires-and not what some
one thinks we ought to pay for it, because
some other city's system only cost SO
much.
That we need a more systematic and
extensive sewerage system than we now
enjoy is an admitted fact; and it must
be taken care of so as to render it harm
less and free from becoming nuisance or
source OF danger to others.
The Sacramento River is temptingly
near our doors, and it certainly would be
cheapest to dump or pump 1t into the
river, without questioning our right to
do so. The discharge of the waste pro-
ducts of human life into river used for
domestic water supply must be and is
attended with more or less danger, mas
much as they will probably always con-
tain a proportion OF The germs OF the
various diseases which are capable OF
being disseminated and propagated in
water.
The discharge of sewerage into streams
to avoid the expense OF previously treat
ing it must and ought to be protested
against Our river must no longer be
considered as the natural vehicle for re-
moving crude sewage. When 1t IS
possible TO render it bright and clear,
the effiuent after proper treatment
will be found IN many cases to contain
less foreign matter than the water sup
piled for domestic purposes.
There are many sewage puritication
systems, each of which has its advocates
country and in Europe. That the sub
soil or irrigation system is good and has
many advantages is an admitted fact, but
such a system cannot be successfully
operated here, situated AS we arc on low
level and having sipage water to con-
tend against in the winter months. Even
If it was such that we could successfully
adopt the broad irrigation system, the
city would require TO purchase several
hundred acres of land to successfully Y
operate the intermittent system as it
ought to De done.
The city Of Berlin, with ] 800, 900 inhab-
ltunis and 30.S00, 900 gallons of sewage per
diem, requires $3.50 acres OF of land, 3,7l0
acres being drained. The report of the
chemical anal ysis of the ef1luent from the
Berlin farm says: I'VE drink of it, for we
know beforehand that chemical analysis
showed it to be destitute of organic mat
Ter aud 10 contain fewer microbes than
sprinp water does" Whe Paris commits
sion recently sent to Berlin reported the
system perfect success. The chemical
precipitation of Worcester, Mass, SO
graphically detailed i'll the RECORD
UNION TWO years ago, and described so as
to comply with our local conditions, con-
tanned The main feature of all the precipi-
tation systems as practiced in Europe to-
day. London proposes to treat all or her
sewage by chemical precipitation. The
works at Booking treat 10000, 600 gallons
per day. The screenings average seventy
tons per week and are burned III q fur
mace. The chemicals employed are lime
and copperas.
The disposal works at CheSwick is the
first plant to discharge its eflluent into
the River Thames above London bridge.
Frankfort-on-the-M Main is credited with
having, possibly, the best chemical pre-
cipitation works on the continent. The
j l,,1,, 6
ina and lime. The etfiuent that enters
the river is clear and pure, to prevent
any possible objection. The sludge, when
dry is used by farmers as manure.
Wiesbaden, Dortmund, Essen, Halle
and Munich have all works similar to
Frankfort and giving satisfactory results.
CHEMICAL PRECIPITATION.
What is chemical precipitation? ''1t
sewage is allowed to stand few hours"
says Allen Hazen, chemist in charge OF
the experiment station at Lawrence,
Mass, in his report to the State Board OF
Health, "a portion OF the organic matter
will settle out, but the greater part is
either too finely divided 10 separate in a
moderate length of time or is III solution.
By adding certain chemicals to the sewage
an inorganic precipjtate is formed. which
settles quickly and carries with 1t nearly
all of the suspended matter, and also a
the chemical precipitation of sewage" In
practice. pretty much like the prudent
housewife who has her own special way
OF settling coffee grounds in the pot, or as
the Chinese laundrymen do when the city
water is muddy-put little alum IN 1t
and let it stand.
The similarity of the practice in chemi-
cal precipitation works as carried on IN
England and those in operation at Wor-
cester. Mass, are almost identical in de-
tail of operation. The works Of Kings
ton. on the Thames near London. are
designed for treating the sewage OF 33,0O0
people. The Engineer aud EHgRceftng
Journal gives the following account OF the
works. which may be OF interest and help
solve the problem for our city'S use:
The land required for all purposes Is
about two of our city blocks, on which is
erected a small building reSem bling a
two-story dwelling, and IN this building
ore nlaced engines, boilers. pumps, mix
ars filters. presses and driving cylinders
re0uired for conducting the process.
The sewage on reaching the works
passes through q screening cnaul oei
which intercepts coarse matter IKE &c
choke or in;ure the pumps. Then 1t pro
ceeds through "A culvert to pump well
25 feet deep and Ii feet in diameter
where it receives the deodorlZlng anC
purifying mixture. This consists OF clay
and charcoal mixed with blood.
The sewage thus treated is raised aboui
u feet by centrifugal pumps; these dis
charge into - meter chamber where the
sewage is measured and the quantity
registered and discharged from the build
ing into an open channel. Here it re-
ceives solution of alum dropping into il
from q little serrated bridge. This acts
as preeipitant, curdling the particles
held in suspension. The sewage thus
prepared travels onward to the settling
tanks. These are eight in number ar
ranged in two SETS OF four each, with a
walk between. The sewage is made to
flow along two separate conduits each
iN.aI..l L. fnl1r of the tanlSS Ench O1