The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1953-12-31

IF plans for such project are
properly prepared and submit
ted to the Ohio Department of
Health for approval, they will be
given the same consideration as
plans for a conventional type of
sewage treatment plant"
He indicated, however. that
engineers of the Department of
Health and State Water Pollu-
ton Control Board doubt that
the lagoon system of treating
sewage would work as well in
Ohio as in North Dakota. For
this reason, the Department
would not be likely to approve
more than one such plan until
1t has been given an effective
trial in Ohio.
The lagoon system of treating
sewage is not new, but it has not
been widely used. A few small
towns in southwestern states
have tried it.
The lagoon system calls for the
building of a large pond or
lagoon, which theoretically takes
the place of settling tanks, aera-
tion tanks, filters and other
devices used in the standard
method of sewage treatment.
In North Dakota's experiments
with this method of treatment,
it has been found that the lagoon
must be about 10 acres in area
for each 1000 population. The
lagoon must be of an even depth,
three to five feet.
Sunlight must penetrate to the
bottom of the lagoon to promote
the growth of algae, a minute
type of plant life. Strong pre-
vailing winds are essential to
agitate the surface of the pond;
this is said to provide natural
aeration and speed the dissolu-
ton of solids.
Boosters of this method of
sewage treatment in North
Dakota claim that no odors are
evident in the lagoons. They re-
commend, nevertheless, that the
lagoons be built a half-mile to
mile downWind from the town
to be served.
The news stories from North
Dakota have stated that such
lagoons were built for about
$4,000 for villages of 1000 popula-
ton. This may not be a complete
tally of the costs, according to
DR.. Porterfield.
In Ohio it is doubtful if $4,000
would purchase more than the
necessary land. Added to this
would be the cost of building
adequate embankments, excava-
ton, seeding and fencing the
area. If the lagoon is to be
mile from town, there would be
the cost of pipeline and pro-
bably pumping stations. The
total cost would be $4,000 to
$45,000 according to Ohio engine
erS.
Conventional sewage treat
ment plants for villages of COM
parable size have been built in
Ohio during the last three or
four years at costs ranging from
$50,000 to 100000.
With either type of treatment,
however, the cost of sewers often
is greater than the cost of sew
age treatment, it was pointed
out; use of the lagoon method
of treatment would not reduce
the cost of sewers.
AS to effectiveness of the
lagoon system in Ohio compared
to North Dakota, it was pointed
out that North Dakota has less
rainfall and higher rate of eva
poration than Ohio, also more
hours Of sunshine per year, and
strong prevailing winds. All |
these conditions would tend to |
make the lagoon system more eff
fective in North Dakota than in
Ohio, it was stated.
Because Of these known fac
tors, the Ohio Department of |
Health is not going to encourage
trials of the lagoon system here"
DR.. Porterfield said, But if
some town wants to try it, and
can find a qualified engineer to
prepare plans for it, we probably
would be willing to give ap-
proval on a trial basis"
He made it clear that if the
lagoon system failed to work
properly after fair trial, the
village trying it might later be
required by the Water Pollution
Control Board to build stand
ard type of sewage treatment
plant.