Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1909-11-11
CITY ENGINEER ON
SEWER SYSTEM

NAAN NAAe vi 4 a. SNNNN
The preparing of plans for sewer
system involves much detail that
would be without interest to any but
an engineer or contractor, and would
be out of place here, but it also in
wolves some general principles that
the public is interested in, and of
these ! viii write,
A study of the situation in Payette
makes it evident that it is impracti-
cal to include all of the city in one
district as it would be impossible to
carry az the lines of pipes to one
common outlet, Some have thought
this could be done by using the
Snake river for an outlet, but this
has been carefully investigated and
trial lines surveyed out Front street
and Park street to the Snake, and
also out Front street to the waste
ditch and from there to the lower
Payettc river, but in each case we
| found that on account of the distance
TO the outlet it could not be done
even though these points On the ri er
are lower than where It Is proposed
to make an outlet, or to put Il an
other way, II we started sewer at
either of these places and run it on a
grade that would make it self clean
ing, we would run out of the ground
by the time we reached the bank
corner on Main street, and this is
where we require the greatest depth
of sewer.
1t is generally conceded that the
business part Of the city is its vital
center, and civic improvements al
ways begin there and work outward.
Following this general rule Sewerage
District No. l was outlined with the
business streets as a center and as
much included as seemed advisable,
taking into account the density of
population. the lay of the ground and
the wishes of the property owners.
A system has been planned that
will Serve every lot included within
the district, and of sufficient capaci-
ty to include, when there is a densi +,
ty of population to Justify the exten-
sions, practically all the lands now
within the city limits on the east side
and a large part Of the land on the
west side, excepting eniy that lying
noFth ef a line near College street
which could have a better system
separate from this with an outlet |
into either the Snake or Lower Pay
cite.
1t is intended to run the sewer
main down Main street, crossing the !
tracks and slough near The cannery
and discharge into the Payette river
directly west of this where the con-
ditions are very favorable for an out
let.
fhe present plans also show
branch line from the main after the
railroad crossing, extending north to
Front street near the old cannery Of
flee, which is intended to accommo-
date that part of the west side that
should have an outlet into this main.
On account of the extEeme flatness
of the lang and che high water in
the river at certain times Of the year,
it has been found necessary TO pro
vide means of preventing the high
water from backing up into base
ments and clogging up the pipes.
This will be done by constructing a
sump or well at point near the out
let into which the sewage will flow
during the very high water and be
pumped out into the river. 1t is not
likely that any pumping will have to
be done for more than two weeks in
any one year, and many seasons viii
not be done at all. 1t is only to pro |
vide for the extreme high water
that this is dene, and the cost of this |
safeguard will be trifling compared
to the damage that might be done /
without It during a flood period such 1
as we had last June. This pump will
be operated by small motor work
ing automatically as needed, and be
no expense when not in use.
In general the system as now
planned will be modern in all re-
spects, provided with flushing tanks,
man holes and lamp holes where nee
essary for proper tnaiatainance, con
structed Of materials considered the
best in sewer construction, and Of
sufficient size to provide for all prob
able extensions.
In regard to cost. the estimate Of
s1.25 per front foot is probably more
than the actual cost viii be, but It
is always best to make the estimate
too large rather than too small, the
State law providing that contract
shall not be made for a greater
amount than the engineers estimate, /.