The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-09-04
ANOTHER BUNCH Of
TROUBLE FOR OCALA
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH FINDS FAULT WITH
EFFLUENT OF SEWERAGE SYSTEM

Robertson the State Board of Health
finds that a proper provision for dis.
posing of the raw effiuent from the
Imhoff tanks of the new sewerage
system has not been made. The board
recommends that further treatment
beds be installed. The mayor has not
signed the plumbing ordinance, re-
Gently passed by council, pending con-
sideration of the recommendations of
the State Board of Health. The re-
port has been filed with City Clerk
Sistrunk, and will doubtless be con-
sidered by council at its meeting to-
morrow night.
George w. Simons Jr., chief. of
the bureau of engineering of the
State. Board of Health, prepared the
report. He commends the sewerage
system generally, and commends the
construction of the two Imhoff tanks.
He calls attention to the sixty to
sixty-fve sewerage wells in the city.
One, at the Ocala House, has been in
use for twenty-five years. These
wells, the report says, should be clos
ed as soon as the new sewerage sys-
tenn is put in operation.
Referring to the disposal of the
sewerage at the Imhoff tanks, the re-
port says: According to general
layout as shown the necessary space
was allowed for final treatment or
contact bed, but in the actual con-
struction the final beds were omitted
and the raw efiuent from the tanks
will be allowed to flow into a deep
10-inch well. 1t is strongly recon-
mended by this board that the orig
inal plan be adhered to and the fur
ther treatment beds be installed pre-
vious to the opening 3of the plant.
Moreover the effuent should be SUBJ
jected to thorough disinfection with
liquid chlorine or hypochlorate of
lime before it is allowed access to al
leep WELL"
Evidence is presented in the report
% show that the Imhoff tank is not a
inal means of sewerage disposal. The
effuent coming from the tank must
De given further treatment before it |
S allowed to flow into the deep well. |
''The discharge of effuent into
leep well,' says the report, "means
he contamination of underground
water, perchance with disease produc-
ng germs"
Mr.. David Henney, of Twombly &
Ienney, engineers for the city in
harge of the sewerage system, after
he J. B. McCrary company was re-
moved from the work, said that it
vas supposed that the McCrary COM
,any had obtained a permit from the
'oard of health for the discharge into
he 10-inch well. Mr.. Henney said
hat the installation of the treatment
'eds recommended by the health
'oard would not be expensive.
The Board of Health's report takes
p Ocala's water supply. 1t says that
)cala has an adequate supply of pro-
able water, and that never in the his
ory of the city has any disease been
raced to the water supply. 1t sug
,ests, however, the possibility of con-
animation from underground drain
ge.
The report says: "The supply of
vater for Ocala is ample but unfor-
unately is located in the midst of
umerous sewerage wells draining
nto the underground water bearing
ormation, and one cannot predict
vhen a serious contamination may
esult. The water is being served
ntreated and up to this time no dis
ase has ever been traced to this
ource"
The report points out that surface
rivies are numerous in the city,
specially in the negro sections, and
ays: "Steps should be taken immed-
ately to demand the construction of
anitary screened privies, which are
y-proof, and thus eliminate this
erious source of danger"
L