Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-03-18
WEST SIDES LONG-DElAYH
SEWER SYSTEM 10 BE BUILT
Prof. Hoad Of the Kansas University
Explains the Plan.


having its long delayed sewer. Fol-
years ago an ordinance was adopte
and published establishing a sewt
district west of the creek but 1t wa
never put in effect because of diff
cultes in getting rid IL the sewerag,
2 Recently Councilman Gleissner an
other west side residents have take
1t up and asked the council to allol
the taxpayers there to go ahead wit
the much needed improvement.
Professor w. C. Hoad. professo
of civil engineering of the Uni, ersit,
OF Kansas, was asked to come her
and give his ideas on the feasibilit.
Of the plan. He is one Of the vest
experts and when after looking owe
the ground with Mr.. Gleissner Fri
day afternoon he said it could b
done he was invited by Mayor Ric'
to meet with the council in the even
ing. This he did and gave some val
liable information.
He summarized briefly the con
nection OF the State Board Of Health
with matters Of this kind, dating
back to the Water and Sewage Law
Of 1877; explained that under this
law a permit for the discharge OF
sewage into any of the waters of the
state had to be issued by the Sec
rotary of the Board, with the appro-
val Of the governor and the attorney
general; that the disposition Of the
board was not critical, but that its
desire was to be as helpful as posi-
BILE to the end that the sanitary con-
dition of the various municipalities
Of the state might be improved and
the public heath conserved.
In the matter of the treatment
of city sewage previous to discharg-
ing it into streams, he stated briefly
tire requirements of the board; that
no publication at all is required in
cases where the amount of water In
the stream is at all times very large
as compared with probable amount of
sewage, and where there is no pub
lie water supply to be contaminated;
that partial publication of the sew
age is required in cases where the
low-water flow Of the stream is
small; and that a high degree of pur-
iflcation is necessary where there is
no stream of water at all into which
the sewage may be discharged; and
that special requirements are made
when public water supplies have to
be protected. The West Side sew
erage system falls into the second
class, in which partial publication Of
the sewage is necessary before dis
charging it into the stream.
This partial publication is usually
best and most economically brought
about in septic tank. He then ex-
planned briefly the construction Of a
septic tank and the principles of its
operation, and approximately the de-
gree and kind of publication it was
able to bring about; stated 1t to be
a very efficient and valuable device,
and the one almost universally en-
ployed for this purpose.
Prof. Hood stated that the condi-
tons were very favorable for its use
here; that the proposed location was
q good one; that there should be no
odor from its operation that would
be perceptlble few feet away, and
likely none at all; that the efiuent
from the septic tank would be thor
oughly mixed with the water Of the
creek in the proportion Of one part
Of sewage efiiuent to 40 or more
parts Of water during the ordinary
Iow-water flow of Mud creek, and
With a greater amount during other
times; that this would be several
lines the degree of dilution secured
1t other places in the state where
septic tanks were in successful opera
ion; and that he should anticipate
10 local nuisance or trouble what
syer from the operation of the sep
.ic tank at this point. The tank IT.
elf will be provided with reinforced
concrete roof and will then be COW
red all over with a foot or more
Il earth and the surface will be sod
led. 1t will be practically impossi-
lie to tell that the septic tank is
here, except from the cast iron man
lole covers, which. may be seen. He
cells confident that the apprehen-
ions of the people Of the neighbor-
lood will be entirely relieved as
DON as the tank comes into active
Iperation. 1t Is not ismply "glori-
led cess-pool." and should not be
ompared with anything Of that kind,
ut is a thoroughly scientific and
ficIent publication device.
40 Lii. A., -anufra