The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-30
NEED new SEWER
State Warns Topeka Against
Downtown System.
In. Case of Flood, City Would
Suffer Severely.
DOWN STREAM PROBLEM UP
Lawrence Uses Water From
Capital City Sewers.
State Enthusiastic Over New
Filtration Plant.

Changing of the Topeka downtown
sewer system is one of the vital prob
lens which the state board of health
plans to work out with the city COM
mission and the city planning board.
DR.. S. ]. Crumbine, secretary of the
the Topeka system of levees and
dikes' the city would be in even worse
condition than nineteen years ago with
repetition of the 1903 flood.
One of the big features which the
state department and members of the
city commission and planning board
will try to work out is a complete
change in the downtown sewer system.
UntlI sss-fs is done, Doctor Crumbine
pointed out to1ay. there is little to be
disposal plant here. He declared that
a sewer disposal plant was one of the
improvements which would be re-
quired for Topeka in the next few
years.
Topeka's water and sewer problems
were discussed by members of the
state board during their session here
this week. They visited the new fill
tration plant and inspected the Ievee
system along the Kaw river near To-
pelxa.
Filtration Plant a Wonder.
'HToo many kind words cannot be
said for the new filtration plant" said
Doctor Crumbine. 1T is one of the
finest in the middle west"
As for the question of flood protec-
ton and seWera rage-particularly in the
matter of protection against floods
the board wasn't SO enthusiastic. The
problem of improvements was pre-
sented several days ago to the city
planning board and may come before
the city commission at an early date.
I'VE pointed out to the city plan
ming commission several days ago that
there are no flood gates at the sewer
entrances for the downtown service
said DR.. Crumbine. Most of the
sewers which carry both local sewage
and flood waters. Separate flood
sewers must be provided in order to
protect the city. Most of the sewers
in the residence section are modern
and all right, but those in the business
district are ancient and dangerous.
Worse Than in 1908.
'In event of a repetition of the 1903
flood Topeka would have little benefit
probably more damage than benefit
from her system of dikes and
levees. The water would simply come
up thru the sewers and both flood
waters and local sewage would be
backed up against the levees. 1t
would be an even worse condition than
before.
TT would also be impossible to
make a sewerage disposal plant ef-
fectiVe under the present system. No
plant could handle the flood waters
and it would be foolish to attempt it"
The state boards survey of water
conditions in the Kaw valley will not
be completed for six months.
I'VE have gone sufficiently far, tho. |
to learn that the Kaw river at low |
stages cannot carry the refuse dumped |
into it, said DR.. Crumbine. 1T all
makes disposal plants necessary. |
Lawrence and Topeka now rely on
river water for domestic use. Topeka |
,an hardly expect towns up stream to |
lake action until Topeka takes steps to |
protect Lawrence"
DR.. ]. w Hawley of Burr Oak
state representative from Phillips |
elected president of the |
state board of health for the next |
year. DR.. J. J. Entz of Marion was
chosen as vice president. DIR. Crum- |
pine holds over as secretary.