The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-18
M aintenance Department
Should Be Re0rganized.
Ventilation Is P00r-East Side
Unsanitary.


portance. because some are equally
necessary; but the first ones should
be started at once.
1. complete survey of the sew
ers1to supply missing i; s rec1rd s. a tha
city engineers office. This probably
can not be done by any force in the
present city department.; but a spe-
cial crops Of men should be employed
at once.
nances should be thoroughly cleaned.
, They should be kept in this condition
by a properly organized department
Of maintenance.
3. All needed repairs to manholes.
flush tanks, sewer inverts. ETC., should
be attended to at once.
4. The relief of the Potwin sewer
district should not longer be neglected
should be started without unnecessary
delay.
6. All outfalls should be equipped
with the means for their closing dur
ing flood periods of the Kansas river,
and should be equipped with pumping
stations. Or the alternative plan OF
collecting all of the sewage at one
point and installing one pumping sta
ton should be adopted.
Sewerage and Sewage Disposal.
The sewerage Of Topeka consists OF
eight systems: one In NORTH Iopeka,
4
west Of Shunganunga creek A Few
short storm water drains have been laid
on the East side, but sanitary sewers
| (for house sewage) are entirely lacking
l in that part Of the city. Each or the
eight systems has its own outfau INTO
/ the river. and all are combined" sew
ers, 1. g., designed to carry both house
sewage and storm water.
Many Objectionable conditions were
found; as in the big City park sewer
1 &s<o Iy,oVv r..
fall. the bottom is badly worn and an
| inch and a half crack extends in the
TOP for about 200 feet. In addition, the
properly constructed house connections.
originally built into the sewer at eacn
Is feet, have, in the majority OF In
stances. been disregarded. The sewer
has been broken into in the most con-
venient manner little attention being
given to making the connection tight
or to protecting the brickwork sima-
three were found in good condition. an
other was found standing full with no
| flow in or out, while the water was
flowing from the other two in a steady
stream-all flushing action being there
| by lost.
Combination Sewers.
In a discussion of the Topeka sewer
system Professor Granville r. Jones OF
| X. U. says: THE first criticism that
should be made against the Topeka
and storm water. The chief argument
in favor Of combined sewers is their low
4 first cost. AS g. rule. this Is mucn lower
than for separate sewers, but 1t Is very
doubtful whether it should be given
| much consideration in the building OF
| a public utility Of such vital import
ance to the convenience and welfare OF
the community. At present fewer COM
bined systems and more separate sys-
| TENS are being built, and in some
~ oh IN
! combined systems are prohibited by
| law or by regulations Of the state
| boards Of health.
THE ventilation Of the Topeka sew
ers is bad. This is in part penalty ex
acted by the combined system, as the
change Of air can be accomplished
much more readily in small than in
large sewers. The fault, however, does
not lie entirely with the system. In To-
peka, manholes are largely used for
ventilation, very few manholes with
tight covers being found. It would be
much more convenient, and much more
pleasant for the community Immediate
~ adjacent to the ill-smelling sewer
line, to close the manholes tight and
have the sewer air discharged through
house stacks above the roofs. This is
the more modern and approved methods
OF sewer ventilation.
Inlet manholes are quite generally
used. such being very poor practice All
inlets should be equipped with catch
basins, which. If properly designed and
maintained. would keep out a great deal ,
Of the sand and mud found in the sew
ers during the inspection. Most of the
catch basins in use are very well de-
signed; some, however, are not, and
should be reconstructed.
Poor City Hall Methods
THE records of existing construction
in the city engineers office are very
meager and unreliable. Plans for all
work seem to exist; but there is no as
work as constructed. In practically
half the cases. grades are not available,
and those that can be had. are entirely
untrustworthy. The practical value of
complete and reliable records, and the
evil results of their absence, is illus
| trated very aptly by the condition
| found in the City park Outfall sewer.
In making house connections to this
| sewer, the properly designed and placed
| 1nlets have been entirely disregarded,
| the wall Of the sewer, as has been men,
| toned already. having been broken
| through and the house drains allowed
| to project into the sewer without any
| attempt to make the connections tight.
The lack OF records of house connection
| inlets on this sewer has very probably
been the cause of the condition de-
scribed.
Swindles of Past
In the matter of engineering service
Topeka has been sadly swindled in the
past. as the records Of the office and
the work in the field will testify. At
present, affairs are conducted quite diff
ferently. and all the work now being
| done is carefully recorded.
Reorganize Department.
The maintenance Of Topeka's sow
err has been IN the past. and - at