Milford chronicle., 1928-06-08
SEWAGE SYSTEM
BEING PLANNED
FOR GEORGETOWN
Sanitary Engineer Says Sewers and
Disposal Plant Would Cost $4,000

of the State Board of Health, has
forwarded to Georgetown the re-
suits of his recent investigation
looking to suitable sewerage sys-
tenn for that town. Mr.. Beckett die
this work in response to a petition
from citizens of Georgetown, who
are considering the advisability o.
installing such a system, to better
safeguard the health of residents
In commenting on this report Mr.
Beckett said:
"The Georgetown water supply is
privately owned and is obtained
from seventeen driven wells from
1 IA inches to inches in diameter
and from S5 feet to 1T feet deer
and from four 3-inch wells 130 feet
deep. All are on a plot of land
near the pump station, at the corner
of King and Laurel streets.
"The analyses taken of the
Georgetown water supply the last
four years indicates a water OF
good quality and unQuestionably
safe at present.
1T may be asked why should we
go to the expense of installing
sewers when we have no typhoid
fever or other diseases that might
be caused by their absence. The
answer is because it is 5etrer policy
to lock the door before the horse is
stolen. We never know when an
epidemic will break out and it is
our duty to do our utmost to pre-
vent it. One case of typhoid i'll
Georgetown is equivalent to two
thousand in Philadelphia.
Probably a good many people in
Georgetown indorse the general
idea of sewers but are doubtful of
the method to be used in sewering
such a fiat area as is the George
town area. In my discussion OF
sewers only sanitary sewers are to
be considered. These take care of
all household wastes of all descrip-
ton but do not include any storm
water or roof drainage. The storm
water can be handled separately by
storm sewers discharging into near
by streams or bitches. Pools of
water after heavy showers bulk
large in the imagination of the peo-
pie but they are soon gone and have
no public health significance. Fur
thermore, in the case Of Georgetown
as well as in the case of New Cas-
tie where similar conditions exist,
the sewage must be pumped.
Georgetown lying so fat makes
it possible to carry the sewage in
most any direction without heing
uneconomical to any great degree.
However, due to the natural layout
of the town and to the fact that the
largest body of water lies to the
southeast the system has been de-
signed to fit in these conditions. In
any case due to the lack Of large
stream of water rather complete
treatment of the sewage is neces-
sary. Furthermore, all the sewage
must be pumped to the disposal
plant.
Under the suggested plan two
main arteries, one serving the terri
tory west of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road and the second serving the ter
ritory east of the Pennsylvania |
Railroad, unite at Pine and Bed
ford streets and from there the sew !
age flows to the pumping station at
street and the alley leading
to the proposed treatment plant. |
Provision has been made for future |
extensions to the suggested system
at both ends of Market street ana
on North Bedford street.
"The sewage would be collected
in the pumping station and there
through a cast iron pipe TO
the proposed treatment plant loca-
ted east of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road on what is now farmland.
"The suggested sewage treatment
plant is practically the same as that
recently constructed in Newark and
is quite common throughout the
United States.
''New Castle is now constructing
4 similar sewerage system 1nclud-
ing two pumping stations. How
ever, due to dilution which the
Delaware River amply affords, no
plant is necessary at this
time. ooooo
"The estimated cost is $1SS,5OS,
which plus ten per cent for engln-
,ering contingencies makes the
grand total $152,35S.SO.
"The first question asked ls'
how much will raise my taxes TO
install such a system?" 1t IS a
yood question and should be ans
yered fully and fairly.
"A bond issue of $160,00O would
,e suggested and the Legislature
,hould be petitioned for such auth
,rization to issue the bonds. Fur
bermore, the authorization should
include the assessment method OF
,aying for the sewers. Under TINS
,lan the property owners In front
# whose property the sewers run
md who is thus directly benefited
hould pay a stated price per foot
# frantage, The remainder OF the
.ost which in the case of George
own would include the cost Of the
pumping station, the sewage treat
nent plant and engineering ex-
,enses should be assumed by the
own through the general tax rate
Increase as these features OF the
vstem are municipal in character.
''In the assessment plan it is to
10 understood that the carrying
.harges of the bonds issued to cover
he cost of the sewers will be car
led by the property owners assess
ID. Usually the property owner is
,iven the choice of paying his as.
essment within 80 days or else Oh
,aying over a period of five years
With interest added, of course, so
hat the cost of carrying this five
ear credit is not saddled on the
,eneral taxpayer. ~
"There are approximately $4,000