The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-03-05
SEWER OUTLET EXTENSION
General Conditions Discussed in Let
ter From Prof w J votey

ter From Prof w votey
Trustee E. H. Holden has received
the following letter, which is self-ex-
planatory, from Prof. w. J. votey,
sanitary engineer of the state board
of health:
Burlington, VT March 2, 1914
Mr.. Il. II. Holden,
Bennington, VT.
Dear Sir,
In reply to your letter OF the 21st
inst. | have the pleasure of submit
ting the following report
First, in regard to the change Of
location of the main outlet of the
present sewer system of your village,
| may say, that, with the new build
ings that are going up close to this
outlet, it will be impossible to main
tain an outlet in the present location
without creating an nuisance during
the summer season when the river is
at its lowest stage. An examination
of the river below the present outlet
showed that by the extension of the
sewer it would be possible to dis
charge the sewage at a new location
where it would not be Objectionable
to those living in the vicinity If the
Mill street Sewer is extended down
that street beyond where any houses
are likely to be built. the outlet sew
er could then be taken directly
across to the river as there are sew
eral feasible points for the location
of the new point of discharge The
question OF how far it is advisable to
extend the sewer through Mill street
should be carefully considered with
| reference to the further development
| of this street for residential purposes
| or factory sites 1t would not be
wise to leave the matter in such
shape that the sewer would have to
be again extended as this street
! might be developed
| In selecting the location OF the new
point of discharge into the river, one
should be chosen where the river Is
at its greatest depth and where, if
| possible, the sewer can discharge be-
low low water level and in the per-
manent channel. or flow or the
| stream and not in slack water II
would be desirable in this connection
to do some work on the stream in
concentrating its flow where the
| stream is now divided In order to Sc
cure the greatest possible dilution of
the sewage. The channel also below
| the point OF discharge should be so
arranged that there could not be any
opportunity for sewage to spread out
on the banks where It's decomposi-
ton might cause nuisance.
In regard to the second matter, the
carrying for the roof water of the
new High School building, | may
say, do not consider It would be adj
visable TO discharge this water into
the present Main street sewer. An
examination of the sewer lines from
the High School to the outlet show
! that some OF these lines are great
ly overloaded 1t would be unwise
there fore. TO increase the quantity
of water that these sewers now have
/ to take care Of In examining the
carrying capacity of the present sew.
ers | found that the Main street sew
er between Depo: street and South
street has capacity under normal
conditions of about 1.9 cubic feet.
The combined capacity, however. OF
the three sewers discharging into
this line is about 5.4 cubic feet. while
these three sewers may not be run
| ming at their full capacity, this
shows, however, that this portion OF
Main street must be greatly overload
ed and, in times of maximum flow
the sewer must be running under a
head caused by the backing up of the
sewage in the nearest manholes
The same condition is found on the
entire Depot street line. All OF this
line is greatly overloaded. In view
of this condition of the present sew
ers. | recommend that the roof water
from the High School, for the pres
ent be discharged into a dry wei
placed in front of the building, at the
south east corner of the lot. ant
that an overflow pipe from this vel
be connected TO the Main street sew
err. This overflow pipe would prob
ably never be used. but il NIGH
serve as a relief or safety measure il
case of any possible choking OF IN,
dry well. | would further recon
mend that at sometime in the future
when the present overloaded condi
ton OF the sewers is relieved. tn,
dry well be abolished. and the cutie
from the building TO this well be eX
tended directly to connection witt
the Main street sewer In this wa,
there would be no loss except tn,
digging of the dry well. The local
ion suggested for the dry we'll i
chosen as the most available on tn
premises. 1t would be impossible Z
locate a dry well at the rear OF tn
lot on account OF the nearness an