Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-04-22

| hAAdA ACAu.
CLARlFIcATIoN IN SEPTIC TANKS.
This clarifying process. as well as large
part of the actual publication, Is usually
accomplished in what are known as septic
tanks.
These septic tanks are, of course, placed
in advance of the final publication bed
and consist of reservoir built in such
manner as best to promote the growth and
activity of those bacteria which bring about
the reduction of organic matter in the sew
age. This reduction of organic matter is
a most interesting process, but time pro-
hlbits any detailed account of it in this
paper; suffice il to say. il is accomplished
by the combined influence of biological,
chemical and mechanical forces. and the
result is lquefying of the solids and a
conversion of large part of the organic
matter in the sewage (Which organic mat
ter is the favorite food of disease-produc-
Ing eerms) into other chemical compounds,
UNIT as food for these bacteria, so that
they finally perish by process Of starva-
ton.
The effluent from a good septic tank is
said to be about so per cent. purified, and
the solid portion of the sewage that enters
the tank is nearly all reduced to liquid
form; the remainder, called sludge, settling
to the bottom. In most perfectly con-
structed tanks, however. almost 100 per
cent can be liquefied.
| The product is now by syphon arrange
ment, which automatically regulates its
discharge, emptied into either a dosing
tank, from which it is internationally fed
onto the final field or bed, or else as in a
continuous sprinkling plan, it goes direct to
the sprinklers and thence onto the filter
beds.
So much for preliminary treatment.
IRRIGATION PLAN
The second method of publication refer
| red to is irrigation or land treatment, fire.
quently called sewage farming, and by this
! method very high degree of publication
can be accomplished.
II Is most efficient in porous, sandy or
gravelly soil. and the sewage is here dis
| charged on the ground much as in ordinary
| water irrigation plans in arid regions, and
the impurities are oxidized by the action
of bacteria dependent for life upon the
| oxygen contained in the air and soil Most
OF these bacteria being found in the few
inches OF earth nearest the surface. lrri-
CATION requires large land area, and hence
is not so applicable to thickly settled re-
gionS. and yet excellent in its results From
5000 to 10000 gallons of sewage per
acre daily can be treated. according to the
nature of the soil.
FILTRATION PLAN AND APPLIANCES.
The third, or filtration plan, briefly out
lined. is as follows: (a) The sewage is
passed through sand filter beds three to
five feet thick, with layer of coarser ma
terial at the bottom, and this subdrained
with tiles, in which case the sewage must
be applied internationally with periods of
rest for the bed each day, (b) or by con-
slant sprinkling from perforated MOBILES
onto q bed of c0arser material, as broken
stone or clinkers. (c) or by flooding il onto
bed made water tight and filed with
coarser material. as stone or clnkers, and
there held in contact for eight to twelve
hours before being discharged through sluice
gates below.
The publication in these filtration meth
DDS is accomplished through the work Of
bacteria. adhering to sides of sand grains,
stone, etc, which 60 to make up the filter
beds.
The sand filter bed is by far the most
thorough in its work, while the continuous
sprinkling method over coarseT bed is much
more rapid, thereby handling more sewage
in given time.
Sand filters will handle from 10000 to
100000 gallons per day per acre, and
sprinkling filters from one to two million,
but the sand filter gives probably the pur-
est effluent of any plan in existence.
VOLUME OF SEWAGE
The sewage of town may be said to
equal in volume the amount Of water the
town consumes, and that consumption is
very variable quantity. In large cities with
all modern cOnveniences, from so to $50
4 gallons Of water pei capita per day is con-
sumed. st. Paul in 1900 consumed 81,
Washington 1855 and Camden, New Jersey,
$50 gallons per capita per day. Small
towns with facilities. of course, very much
less.
Whichever plan should be adopted by
any given town or individual must, after
all. be governed by local conditions Inland
towns. in thickly settled communities, usual
ly finding one or the other Of the filtration
systems most applicable. For some useful
information on the subject as applicable
to private homes, would refer you to
Farmers Bulletin. No. 270," booklet
published by the Department Of Agricul-
ture. and mailed to any one on request.
NEEDS OF THE DAY
have recently communicated with the
officials Of almost every Incorporated town
of any size in Maryland, outside of Balti-
more city. and from twenty replies have
reports of water works in seventeen, sew
age systems complete or partial in eight,
ordinary dug wells still in use in thirteen,
cesspools and ordinary outdoor closets in
practically every one, but from only one
town in the State have had any report of
any attempts whatsoever to purify the
sewage before its final disposal.
. IatT Iard s.f
are so freely appropriated and expended
on public benefactiOns, and when philan-
thropists are in many instances actually
looking for a way to buy public monu
ments for themselves, feel we have, in
the matter Of sewage disposal. a broad
and useful field
So. in closing, would express the hope
for more agitation and more active work
along this line. on our part, both as phys-
clans and as citizens. for firmly believe
the day Is not far distant when so-called
sanitary conditions, which now bear the
seal Of public approval will be considered
a reprOach 10 modern civilization.
Upon the conclusion Of the reading Of
this paper. on motion Of DIR. George Z.
Lewis, DR.. Mervin Maus. United States Sur
geOn, assigned to duty at Chicago as a
sanitary expert. was invited to discuss the
paper. DR.. Maus endorsed the same as an
accurate and up-to-date presentation Of
fully demonstrated facts and principles,
and urged upon the society, and especially
upon the town Of Rockville, the importance
Of placing the suggestions into practical
operation.
The president Of the State Medical Asso-
citation Of Maryland. who was also present,
gave his similar endorsement
The Sound Sleep Of Good Health.
The restorative power of sound sleen can