The age-herald., 1900-11-11

 ments N ere therefore made in the outfall sewers for twenty-four hours and the total flow calculated. It was found to be a little less than 100000 allons per day.
 Estimating the population now using the sewers at S5,000 would give a per capita flow of IA gallons per day. This shows a great waste of water which will, eventual ly, to a large extent, be corrected
 Sewage Purification.
 The question of purifying the sewage Is dealt with at some length in the report, the fact first being set out that purifeaion is possible. The various methods employed in purifying sewage by different commit tees are cited and the results given. The first method mentioned is that known as Brood Irrigation, but which cannot be con- sidered applicable in this district owing to the lack of suitable porous soil.
 The second method mentioned is to con- struct basin through which sewage passes slowly and, by the addition of lime and other chemicals to precipitate the solids, the precipitate being dried and burned. This method removes about half the im- purities and 1t Is generally found necessary to filter the effiuent through bonds com posed of sand or other suitable material. This method Is expensive
 The third method mentioned for dealing with the solids is to pass the crude sewage through a tank, large enough to hold twen- ty-four hours, and during this period the aneTaDlc DaCIeT1d IS Sdlu to convert most of the solids into liquid, the remainder sinking to the bottom and becoming liqui- fled eventually. In other cases the effluent is passed through filters for final treatment
 The plan recommended in the report is that known as double filtration. The sew age passes through well or grit chamber where gravel or like substances that have found their way into the sewer, will be deposited. The sewage then passes into screening chamber where the larger par tices, paper, rags, etc, will be caught by screens and the heavier matter will settle to the bottom The sewage will then pass to the filter beds, which will be filled with coarse coke breeze. or cinder from coke ovens. The filter beds will be about five feet deep and one acre in area each. Lines of drain tile, with open joints, will be laid on the bottom of the beds leading to the main eff1uent pipe, which will be controlled by valve. When one of the beds IS full the flow of sewage will be diverted to an- other, and after the sewage has been al- lowed to stand about two hours in the bed, to give the first set of bacteria chance to work. the valve in the effiuent pipe will be opened and the effluent discharged into another bed similarly constructed, except that the coke breeze will be much hner. After remaining full about the same length of time the contents will be allowed to flow out as from the first bed and the efnuenc will be practically pure water. When the effiuent valve is opened and the sewage level Is gradually lowered in the bed, air IS suckd down through the peers and thus oxygen is supplied to the bacteria. After a rest of two hours the bed may again be filled and the process repeated. Almost any desired state of puriication can be ob- tained in this way.
 A number of reasons for recommending this system are advanced among these be- ing it's efficiency, its comparatively low cost simplicity of operation, adaptab1ilty of conversion into other methods, the large comparative capacity low cost of fil- ter material, etc.
 Extent of Plant.
 The extent of the purifcation plant Is then detailed it being shown that for this district the basis would be about SOO,OOO gallons per day to each acre. Assuming the Valley creek basin would not provide more than 5,00000O gallons of sewage per day for number of years to come, twelve ac->s of filter beds would be required. For the Village creek basin two to four acres would be required.
 The estimated cost of the undertaking, with the size and length of the sewers, etc., is then given, as follows:
 Valley Creek Division.
 Birmingham to Bessemer-Diamete of sewer, feet; length, 595ee0 feet; popula ton to be drained, 161. .000 estimated cost, $195,- 5S5.
 Bessemer to Purification Plant-Diameter of pipe, feet; length 11O0O feet; popula- tion to be drained, 22S, coo; estimated cost, $44, 165.
 Purification Plant = Settling basin and screening plant $10,000; twelve acres of filter beds, 6O,OOO 100 acres of land. s25OO; incidental, -$1O, ,000
 Total for Valley creek division, $322 25O.
 Village Creek Division.
 East Lake to Woodlawn-Diameter of sewer, feet; length, 15,00O feet; popula- ton to be drained, S3,500; estimated cost $25, ,725.
 Woodlawn to points 1000 feet east of Pratt City Road-Diameter of pipe, feet; length, N,0O0 feet; population to be drained, S1 900; estimated cost, SIP, 765.
 Last Named Point to EnsleY-Diameter