The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-09-25
Hubbell Gathers Data
and Will Work Out
Scheme
WOULD PREVENT
RIVER POLLUTION
Water Unsafe For Use
Without Treatment,
He Says

Clarence w. HuOceil, Inc SANITARY
engineer employed by tho city 10
study the sewage disposal problem
and outline remedial measures, has
collected all the data necessary for
the preparation Of his fnal report.
which he hopes 10 have ready about
the first OF next year.
Mr.. Hubbell said Friday, that IL
would take him several months ="
digest his data and prepare es,.
mates on the various plans he is
working out to take care OF the
city's sewage at moderate cost.
Some cities are spending az much
as $4,000, 900 on sewage disposal
plans, but Mr.. Hubbell Is confident
that Detroit can comply with the
orders OF the international joint
commission. relative 10 stopping
river water pollution. without spend
ing a third OF that amount. He con-
templates adopting some method OF
putting the sewage into the river
so as TO allow better use of the
river dilution powers.
II am reasonably sure that De
troit can dispose OF its sewage
cheaper than most ether cities that
have Pat In plants. due TO the dilu-
ton in the river" said Mr. Hubbell
Buffalo Is the one city that would
except I recently completed a tour
Of investigation which included A..
lanta, fla, which city has the old
est and most perfect imhoff tank
system for sewage disposal In the
country. | Inspected different types
OF plants in Baltimore. Pittsburgh.
Albany. Rochester. batavia. Milwau-
kee, Cleveland. Brooklyn and Co
lum bus"
Mr. Hubbell says that his investi-
CATION Of the river water satisfies
him that IL Is not safe for drinking
purposes without treatment. He
started 10 make investigation below
Peche island and continued as far
as Lake Erie, covering the entire
river. He found the pollution in
creasing as he went down the river.
The investigation. he declares. shows
conditions about "a he expected to
find them.
II built the intake and tunnel that
now supplies the city with water"
said Mr.. Hubbcll 1T vas a source
OF qualification to me TO find that
tho water In the vicinity OF the In
take was quite free from pollution
although not entirely pure. The fact
that our health board informs us
from time TO time to boil the drink
Ing water Is sufficient proof that
something must be done TO stop the
pollution of the river water. This
water menace IL bound TO grow as
the city and surrounding district be-
come more thickly populated"
Regarding method for the treat.
inent OF Detroit's sewage before IL
is empticd into the river, Mr.. Hub
bell said that he is considering
tentatively the possibility of using
each Of the So sewer outlets, there.
/ by doing away with the necessity OF
building an expensive connecting
sewer. He is not sure that he can
work oft plan whereby treatment
stations can be placed at the
mouth OF almost every city sewer
outlet but lie is anxious to solve
the sewage disposal problem in De-
troit with some such economic plan.
Mr.. Hubbell is working in con.
junction with the experts Of the In
terna,ional joint commission. The
survey work will cost about $4,000,
half Of which IL paid by the com.
mission