The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-22
SEWER GAS.
Plumbing Inspector Points Out
New Impending Danger.
His Annual Report Demonstrates the
Importance OF Caution.

The ul report Of the inspector OF plumb
ing, Reuben :. Eemis, presented 10 the
Common Council last night. 10 Is long and
correspondincy interesting. IL points out
some very desiri be changes, in one instance
calling attention 10 a matter OF vital import
anoe-that of proper connections between
houses and tie sewer. that IS, II disease Is 10
ba Lvoided. he report begins with the state
ment that, on tic whole, there has been
ready compliance with the law. Within
conf aratively short space of tim" the city
has expended miilit ns upon systtm OF
sewerage which will Le one OF the finest in
tho country. But the most perfect - stem
world b. ittlo moro than useless II no atton-
ton wore paid 60 the sanitary arrangement
OF tae household. A few important questions
which tie househC lier should understand are
given, as follows: Have you a pan Of tho
eystom Of pipes in your house Z j. all the
plumbing work exposed ID vIew or easily Rc-
oessible? Are the natures on the different
floors plsced over each other so as 10 avoid
horizontal scil ana waste lipes2 Are all the
pipes airiil IT. as hown by proper testf is
the continuation Of the house drain ontside
properly laid ? Does each water closet have
a sufficient supply OF water discharged with
sufficient force To scour the traps and branch
waste pipes? Are all objects excluded from
tho water coset which are likely 20 ohstruct
the pipesp Are the traps 10 arranged as to
resist sipbonagef
The improvement in the work OF plumbers
generally during the year Ia heen very
marked. During 1896 there were D4S plans
iied at the office. 552 for work in new houses.
The estimated value Of plans filed was $751;
COS. ghsre were 4sO2 inspections. Only 5O''
or "A per cent. were below the legal standard,
against 7c6 defective jobs out Of l6Go or "A per
cent. in 1864. There were cnly three viola
tions followed by prosecution. One license
was suspended, but afterward restored.
The appropriation fer the department is
$500; salary Of inspector, $500; clerk, $500;
assistant Inspector s2l per week.
Since July 0. 1898. the amended ordinances.
with the exception Of section &, relative to
water tests on house drains, have been strictly
enforced. While fully realizing the import
fnce of a rigid enforcement OF section s, the
department was unable to handle the extra
work with its present equipment. II would
involve in addition to inspecting the plumb
ers, the yxsmipaton and inspection of 80
licensed drain layers.
The report deals also with ths responsiveness
OF tACTeultutdi uht'tfs tho " PNi
mitting 10 TO remain ear dwell ngs and the
evil consequence of faulty drain pipes and
sewers. Typhoid fever. cholera and diarrhoeal
diseases, as we'll as diphtheria and cerebro
spinal meningitis, ure more or less tracsable
| to local filths,
One source OF danger is that Of allowing
| traps to get dry. In the summer season hum
| dreds shut up their houses. Little or no at
teution is paid to the plumbing, and IL never
| occurs 20 the householder to look Mt the traps
under the different fixtures. The water left
| in the traps evsporates. the seal becomes
broken, and sewer gas sweeps through III
house.
| Thore are two important principles which
should be insisted on: The maintenance of n
constant ana ample supply throughout the
entire length Of the main drain. and the soil
pipe connected with IL. and the exclusion of
sewer air by means of proper trap placed in
the main house drain. just outside OF the
building, and by tight Joints in the pipes.