The Dickinson press., 1905-10-14
SEWAGE PROBLEM SOLVED.
The Septic Tank Proves Satisfactory. Ea-
shy Constructed, Sanitary
Il and Effective.

Some time early in the summer R. M. l
ruttle wrote the Pioneer from Port
land as follows:
"Sonie day in the near future, we all
hope that Mandan will have an ap-
proved system Of sewage disposal. but
until that time il is a pity that you
should depend upon cesspools, when
there is within reach assystem Of sewage
which is SO much better. !.
refer to the septic tank, which takes
cognizance of the existence of anerobic
bacteria. whose mission in their short
lives seems to be to eat up waste matter
if they are given half a chance. There
are few conditions necessary for their
work, which, if followed, can be de-
pended upon to work without fail.
s, ! "Anerobic bacteria are bacteria which
live without air. They break up, in
septic tank. the molecules discharged
into the tank, in order to get at the !
oxygen. .s
\ "s'Fhe tank must be airs tight, and the
matter discharged into it must enter the
tank at or near the bottom. This is 50
that the surface will not be disturbed.
A thick scum forms over the top Of the
tank, thus keeping all air, from the lower
part, and thus the bacteria have chance
to work and accomplish their purpose.
There is an outlet into the air for the.
liquid, which comes out as almost clear
water. with practically no odor. This.
water must not be taken from the top Of
the tank, or air would thereby be ad-
mitted, and the scum would be interfered.
with. But it must be taken from near.
the bottom, the outlet pipe being bent.
down to level with the pipe that con-
veys the waste matter into the tank.
"fhe principle is-very simple, and the
methodsof construction is about as fol-
lows: While iron or other metal may-b be
used if desired, as efficient tank may
be built Of cement. The roof may be
arched over and cemented,. with an
ordinary nanhole, or itmay be covered
withsa board roof and tar paper. 1t is
best to leave it so it can be opened and
contents examined when necessary.
"The problem is to make the tank
just large enough TO accommodate the
sewage which it is designed to dispose
of,for at least "a hours, and that the flow
of the sewage both entering and leaving
the tank shall be regulated in such a
manner as TO give rise to absolutely no
disturbance to the surface in the way Of
the scum. and G. have
little current IS possible. IN order to do
this, the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe
are brought in at the same level, the
former pipe at a low grade. barely
enough to insure the sewage flowing
into the tank. Then on the end of both
pipes is placed an elbow carrying the
opening Of the pipe down at least a foot
beneath what will be the surface level
of the fluid. BY this means the current
is kept down to its lowest possible flow,
and the possibility of a disturbance OF
breaking up Of the surface scum is
reduced to minimum.
"The size of the tank is determined by
the amount Of sewage, which is to flow
into it, and roughly speaking a capacity
Of four cubic feet per individual will
give the correct proportions. That is to
say, family Of eight would take tank
of 81 cubic feet capacity, or FIVE feet
long by three feet deep and two and a
half feet wide. Such tank as this will
change the sewage from the ordinary
house, including that from the water
closets, kitchen sinks, bath and wash
rooms into a clean, harmless, colorless
fluid.
at should be added that the septic
tank requires fairly good supply OF
water in order to work well, as the ma
terial to be reduced must be dissolved in
considerable amounts Of water to allow
the bacteria to attack it properly. ANY
house which has windmill can furnish
sufficient water, though in an ordinary
household where the tank is used it will
probably be necessary at times to dis
charge extra amounts Of water through
it in addition to that which comes from