Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-11-10

Methods OF Sewage Disposal.
| Among the different methods OF
disposing OF sewage. the following
1 may be mentioned as the principal
/ ones.
First--CIude Disposal
Second Broad Irrigation.
Third-Intermlttent F1ltcratiou.
Fourth Septic Tank Treatment.
Fifth--Chemical Precipitation.
The above methods are subject to
combinations ana variations.
Fir9t--"Crudc Disposal" This
method consists In the discharRIng OF
sewage into tidal water or some large
stream, having ample flow to proper
ly dilute the sewage so that it will not
cause nuisance 10 the public or to
individuals. This method IS some
times called "Dllutlon," and IS often
times practiced; ana even sometimes
when the diutiou is not sufficient to
give good results.
Second" Broad Irrigation" is n
method whereby the sewage Is taken
TO large tracts Of land ana there used
for Irrigating growing crops. This
method requires an ample area upon
which to turn the sewage; for In
times of rains the growing crops do
not require the water. ana yet the
sewage flow must be taken care of in
the wet season, as well as the dry. II
an ample quantity of suitable land
can be secured within reasonable
distance of the outlet. SO that the
sewage can be taken there by gravity
this method OF disposal Is somot!mos
l. II
pumped TO irrigation fields, the eX-
penso Is generally too great to be con
sldcrCd.
Third -- "Intermlttent Fi!teration"
IS a method of disposlnE Of the SOW
age through sand. either in natural
or artificial beds; the offluent from
tho filters being allowed to flow off
into the streams or water courses.
This method very thoroughly purirles
the sewage, and Is considered most
effective These filter beds require
considerable attention, in order to
keep them from cloggInE, 1t being
necessary to rake the smdgc from the
sorfacc of the beds at frequent inter-
walls, the smdGe being usually disposed
o. by plowing in. This method il
practieed where conditions will per-
nit and whore high degree OF pur
ity is required in the cffluent.
Fourth--"Scptc Tank Treatment"
This method consists in allowing the
sewage to pass slowly through large
settling tanks, in such a manner rs
that the solids are precipItated to the
bottom; thick scum being formed
on the top Of the tank, where the or
ganic matters are attacked by bac-
terra. broken up, and largely de-
stroycd. The cffluent flows off at the
lower end of the tank near the sur
face of the water. where ii can be
urther purified, either by intermit-
tent liberation through sand, or by
passing II through sprinklcrs onto
beds made Of coarse broken stono or
gravel. This latter method if care
fully pract!ccd, should remove from
90 TO 9S per cent OF the organic mat
ters in sewage. IL done, however. by
the former method; that is. BY inter
mlttent liberation or filtoring the e.
fluent through sand, greater purity
should result, II properly managed.
Fifth -- Chemical Precipitation"
This method allows the sewage 10
nov into comparatively large tanks, |
with certain chemicals added to the ,
sewage just previous to its entering |
the tanks These chemicals usually !
consisting Of lime, sulphato of alum |
Ina, or salt OF iron, cause more or less !
of the solids TO precipltate TO the bot |
tom of the tank. while the lidu!d |
above flows off into secondary tanks |
for further precipitation; after which |
1t flows off to tide-water or somo |
other watercourse. This method usu- |
ally removes about one half OF tho or
ganic matter in the sewage. 1t il not .
practlced at the present time 10 the
extent that il was somc years ago.
owing to the advantages to be de-
rived from the septic tank treatment.
the latter being more economical In
operating and giving better results.
The question Of dlsposlng OF the
sewage at Albuquerque at the present
time Is not Il serious one, as II can be
into the Rio Grandc river
near the present outlet. without caus-
Ing nuisance TO the city or 70 any
one upon the river below the city.
Should It become necessary to
adopt some method OF treatment in
the future. the work herein recon-
mended will readily adapt Itself 10
such new conditions without any
serious change in the general sys-
tenn.
Recommendations
After careful study and consider
alton of the various problems en-
countercd in your city, IL Ia recon-
plended that you adopt the separate
system OF sewage for the entire city.
with stOTm-watcr drains
where and when necessary. to relieve
The city of storm water. Also, that
FOR the present, YOU adopt the method
known as 'crudc disposal" having
general outlet in the RIO Grande river
near thc present outlet. Plans ana
estimates Of cost have been made i'm
accordance with tho above recon-
In recommending tho separate
system of sewerage for your adoption,
has been given TO the
question Of economy in building and
operating. Another question which
has considerable bearing on the sub
'ect. is the mean annual rainfall OF
0Qlg a hpuf n. Iurhga