Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-05-18
ACTION OF new
SEPTIC TANKS
IS EXPLAINED

WIN the arrival 1nufSQay OF q
p. Learned, representative Of Blac
and Veatch Consulting Engineers Q
Kansas City, who have been lookin
after the city's interests in the build
ing Of the septic tanks, these needle
Improvements have been made q par
of the sanitary system Of the city
The water was turned into the Eas
tanks Thursday and after the re
movAl Of ONE dirt that washed ii
during the last hard rain, the Nortl
tanks win be in operation, This vii
be by Saturday it is said.
The question has often been asket
how these tanks could remove thu
menace of the city sewage with M
chemical treatment and it is found
that where it is not disturbed and
the gases are permitted to pass of
with no disturbance to the solids, the
bacterial action Of the sewage per-
mits the elimination of all detrimen-
tai effects.
The system is known as the Imhoof
Septic Tanks and consists of a large
dam to keep out food water behind
which is a large tank about twenty
five feet deep with two smaller tanks
inside and neal the top. The sewage
passes into the small tanks very
slowly and all sediment gradually
settles to the bottom, which has very
steep sides, and then passes through
holes into the larger tank where it
gradually settles to the bottom Of it.
Leading from this larger tank are
three vent pipes that carry off the
gases without disturbing the sub
stances in the smaller tanks and with
this removed nature gradually pur-
iies the settings by bacterial action.
This sewage is about eighty-fve per
cent water when received by the
tanks and as the combination of the
three tanks is practically the same al
one the water is never disturbed
from the time it enters the smaller
tanks until it passes off free from
sediment.
1t will require about five days work
a year it is said to clean the bottom
of the large tank of its product,
which is called sludge. This can be
done without disturbing the action of
the tanks in any way. This sludge
is then placed on what is called a
sludge filter, which is made Of
broken rock on which has been placed
a layer of sand, and here it stays
until thoroughly dry. 1t is said to
be excellent to mix with soil that is
too heavy, though it is not considered
of value as a fertilizer. 1t is safe to
place it anywhere and many COM
munities use it for filling low places
in the cities.
Before the sewage can enter the
tanks it passes through a screen to
remove all rags, sticks, ETC., and this
screen must be cleaned daily. This
will require but a half hour a day at
the most it is said. This refuse is
placed on what is called a drying
rack the contents of which is burned
as required in a small incinerator
which is provided.
Control manholes on the sewers as
they pass through the food dixie will
automatically shut off the sewage
from the tanks when the flow is to
great for them to handle it properly,
as in the case of a long, hard rain,
when it is diverted to the stream be-
low the tanks. There is no danger to
the city in this according to Mr..
Learned, as when the creek is one
third full the action of nature will do
the work required of the tanks when
there is no natural flow in it.
The members of the Septic Tank
Committee and the Streets and Al
leys Committee of the Council who
have been making special examin-
atoms of the tanks from time to time
feel the city has made an excellent
investment in this system as it not
only gives full protection with the
minimum of up-keep expense but at
its present size it will accommodate a
city fifty percent larger than Merico
now is.
w. w. Crouch, resident engineer
for Black and Veatch while the tanks
were being built, says the system
could be doubled at a small proper
ton Of the first cost as but a part
would be required in doubling the
capacity. This however, viii not be
required for years to come. Reed and
Wheelock, General Contractors, Of
Clay Center, Kansas, who make a
speciality of this kind Of work were
the contractors who built the system.
Mr.. and Mrs. Joe Luckie are in