Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1911-06-28
1.-THE SEWERAGE PROBLEM
OF CITIES
Very Few Have Solved Il Satisfac-
torily-Raw River Water
Not Safe.

their sewage and water problems. ac-
cording to DR.. Arthur Lederer, chemist
land bacteriologst of the sewage test
ling station of the sanitary district of
Chicago. who spoke before the Sec
! ton on preventive medicine of the
! American Medical Association today
Dr. Lederer also declared that 1t is
probably true that very few rivers in
the United States are safe raw for
drinking purposes; that small COM
Z munities as a rule pay attention to
their sewage problem only when they
/ begin to smell it. "The odor Of fresh
sewage is not repugnant, as is com
monty supposed" the speaker said.
In small bulk it appears slight
yellowish, fairly turbid liquid, con-
tanning a very varying amount of fine
" divided suspended matter, as well
! as coarse. The layman invariably pic
lures sewage as the dark, putrid liquid
found in stagnant sewers or septic
tanks.
AS a rule, the sewage problem can
not be spoken of without touching
upon the water problem. The sewage
problem of one today may become the
water problem of another tomorrow.
Pollution of surface waters is, in
many cases, an interstate affair. and
usually to prevent or eliminate such
pollution the good grace and will of
many small communities have to be
depended upon. Concerted action by
such communities is hard to obtain,
and in some cases, almost a hopeless ;
task. There are several reasons for
/ this: Various communities seldom
agree as to the amount of pollution
they are responsible for. Some com
munties depend upon the water sup
ply they are polluting, others do not.
Naturally, the ones which do not are
in no hurry to remedy the condition,
Lack of funds. Lack of appreciation
of the common good.
1T is true that the temptation to
discharge raw sewage into the large
water couses is great. We can only
remedy this evil with difficulty. A
4 reasonable line must be drawn some
where. The trade wastes of our large
industries have to be discharged.
Many of the trade wastes can be puri-
fed but partially We have therefore
to confine ourselves to trying to keep
the large common drinking reservoirs,
such as are represented by the great
lakes. in a good, wholesome condition.
The introduction of the publication OF
sewage is an educational task, much
more so than the publication OF wa.
ter supplS. You can demonstrate to
the people in a community that the
death rate from intestinal disease is
rising and that the water supply is re-
sponsible for it, The people will light
for pure water supply and get 1t
frequently in spite of franchised wa
ter companies and empty treasures.
Unfortunately, the discharge OF raw
sewage by one community in most
cases affects another.
Small communities, as rule. pay
attention to their sewage problem
only when they begin to smell It,
Their usual procedure in such a case
is to have the engineer, who, IN most
cases. is a civil engineer by training,
draw up a design for a septic tank or
the like. Right here is where we need
most enlightenment. Many of us have
seen the sewage disposal plants which
do not operate properly, and many
have seen the plants which are fail
ures. either on account OF faulty de-
sign or on account of entire lack OF
intelligent supervision. The state leg
islatures and the state boards OF
health. in the Middle West in partlc-
ular. are Just beginning to awaken to
the fact that proper sanitary engineer
ing advice by men of special training
is as valuable to these small communi-
ties as anything they may do to FUR
Their the health of the people. An IN
efficient sewage disposal plant, or
neglected plant, represent waste OF
capital and energy.
Raw sewage may actually purify IL
self. during storage prolonged for
weeks. to a state where it is impossi-
ble to differentiate it from fresh, clear
water by physical inspection, except
II be for mineral sediment and a
growth of algae at the bottom,
"The aim in modern sewage dis
posal is to get rid of the small amount
of suspended matter present as quick
ly as possible, and then to oxidize the
fresh liquid on biologic filters should
additional treatment be required.
"In the last few years the disinfec'
ton of contaminated waters has made
great strides and has actually lowered
the death rate from intestinal diseases
wherever it has been intelligently APP
Piled"