The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-06-22
SEWAGE DISPOSAL
SYSTEM FOR THE FARM
H GWINNER,
Maryland Agricultural College Exten.
sion Service.

/ Following a recent announcement
/ that the Division of Engineering of the
Maryland Agricultural College was
preparing plans and details for sew.
! age disposal system for the average
farm, such a system has been put into
working operation and description of
its construction and operation pre-
pared
The question may be asked why go
to the expense of installing such a
system on the average farm? In reply
to this, II is only necessary to say that
such a system does away with the IN
sanitary and unsightly privy and the
pollution of the soil and wells due to
the teaching of the liquid waste; pro-
ducing typhoid and kindred diseases.
A properly designed sewage system
discharges only clear water, the solid
matter in general having been con
sumed by certain mechanical and bac-
terial action in such a system. Any
insoluble wastes may be easily re-
moved from the system at little ex-
pense.
The system in question is designed
TO care for ten people and consists Of
two anti-freezing Loppers or toilets,
about two hundred and sixty feet Of
siE-inch vitrifed sewer pipe and a
dark, air-tight concrete tank; this lat
ter being known as q septic tank. The
water for flushing the toilets and the
system when necessary is carried to
the spot by three-quarter inch gal
vanized pipe from the college main.
As the toilets are used in an out
house, which has no heat, they are
made frost proof or antifreezing.
This desirable arrangement is brought
about by the water storage tank over
the hopper or toilet being filed while
the hopper is being used and it fushes
automatically Immediately the seat Of
the hopper rises.
The excreta or sewage, after leaving
the toilets, Is conveyed through the
stx-inch pipe to the septic tank, This
pipe was laid in a carefully graded
ditch, and owing to the lay of the land
two grades were necessary; eight feet
being on a 10 per cent grade and one
hundred and twenty feet was laid on a
AZ per cent grade
The septic tank, which receives the
sewage, is made Of a mixture of one
part Of cement, two parts of sand and
four partsof gravel The top, sides and
ends and bottom were reinforced with
steel rods. The tank has two com
partments or chambers; one Of which
IS the settling section and the other
the discharge section. The sewage
Is discharged into, settled and parti.
ally purified in the settling chamber.
It slowly seeps around the baltic
boards over the concrete partition
wall into the discharge chamber and
when sufficient has collected in this
chamber, II is intermittingIy dis.
charged from this chamber by an auto.
matte siphon. "
This septic tank has a capacity to
take care OF the Aushings of forty gal
Ions per person and to discharge at
intervals between twelve and twenty.
-four hours There is no advantage in
having tank larger than necessary to
properly perform the work, for then
the liquid sewage remains too long
and putrefaction is likely to occur. If
the siphon fails TO discharge during
the proper working periods, owing to
not having received sufficient sewage, |
finch t1ff note tbrC,,nh ln +OiI
cts TO make 1t do So
The most difficult portion of the |
system to construct was the septic |
tank, owing to the steel reinforcing !
rods. The forming was of pine, one !
inch stuff, six inches wide and dressed |
both sides, while the bracing was two
by four stuff. The top of the tank is
not separate from the sides, but is
nodded with the sides and ends. Time |
in completing tank by three |
laborers, carpenter and helper was
four and one-half days and the cost,
was S8210
Anyone desiring more detailed in,
relative to the design, cost,
details Of construction Of the system
and blue print drawings of the tank,
may obtain same by communicating
with the Extension Service, Maryland
College, College Park, Nd
Synopsis OF Cost OF System.
Plumbing, including two anti
freezing Kemp toilets. ......$ 1885
Two hundred and sixty feet of
six-inoh sewer tile in place. STAG
Septic tank complete. .... sale
Mechanics, overseeing time. $500
Total .S218.15
To this should be added the amount
which would have to be paid a sur
veyor and assistant. 1t requires about
two hours to run the proper lines by