Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-07-07
SEWAGE DISPOSAL.
Unique Plan In Operation In an Eng
lish Town.

So much is being written at the pres
ent time ON the subject of sewage dis
pOsal that our readers may be interest
cd in a description of u unique system
which Is the invention of the city sur
vcyor of Exeter, England, and which is
ccssful. if reports we read can he relied
upon. says Public improvements.
In the outskirts Of the city, in 4 riy-
erside meadow, there is a small rallied
Off area, which may or may not attract
ones attention. al that the visitor
sees is a small grass covered mound
and shallow concrete lake. each
about the area of n fair sized drawing
room In an ordinary house. Yet at this
insignificant looking mound, for the
past two years, the entire sewage of q
town Of 5000 Inhabitants has been
cleau'rd. and the water, perfectly clear
and absolutely innocuOus, has emerged
aud flowed into the river. And this
has been accomplished without its hav-
ing received either mechanical or
chemical treatment
The secret Of the process is provided
by nature in the form of the microbe
Underneath the grass covered mound
is a tank into which neither light nor
air can penetrate. This condition rem
dcrs the tank an ideal spot for the
propa cation and multiplication of bac-
terra. which thrive and fatten on the
corruption which flows into the tank In
the form Of sewage. 1t is said that in
few hours after the sewage enters
the tank all the solid organic matter is,
by the action of the microbes. dlssolv-
ed into liquid. \ valve opens automat-
ically and allows the contents of the
tank to flow out into a channel, which
carries 1t into the small lake referred
to, the bed Of which Is covered with
tiltcring material.
AS light and alr are fatal to microbes,
by the time the liquid has trickled
through the tiltering material 1t is ren.
dercd perfectly clean and inoffensive
and is purer than the waters Of the riv-
er into which it dows. Fishes are fire.
quently seen swimming in ii right up
to the edge of the filter, and we are
told that on several occasions persons
In ignorance of what 1t really was have
drunk it without experiencing any in
furious effects.
The mechanism Of the system is ex'
tremely simple aud its action entirely
automatic. The receiving tank is d.
vidcd into two sections, or compalt-
ments. The filling OF one section opens
the discharge valve and divcrtS tho in
flow to the other compartment, The
/ tllteriu@ basin. or lake, is also divided
one section connecting with each com
partmcnt Of the receiving tank This
allows time for the tlltering material
to recover itself.
The success Of the system has at,
traCted the attention of sanitary ex,
works are being constantly visited
by deputatious from other cities to OBJ,
serve the operations. The scheme is sc
simple that at first 1t was looked upon
as a sort OF fairy tale, and little reli'
ance was put upon it. But its success
full operation for two years has proved
its efficiency and practicability, and II
promises to become Il potent factor II
the matter Of public sanitation. 1t is
claimed that 1t can be adapted TO the
largest cities, and, If so, 1t is certainly
remarkable invention.