Improvements in the Treatment of Sewage..
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 13th May, 1889-Accepted, 17th Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Sewage..
I, THOMAS DONNITHORNE, of Laurel Cottage, Mill Hill, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
At the outfall of the main sewer or drain of a sewage system I erect high above
the surface of the ground two or more tanks, preferably two, because the larger the
area and the greater the height of the tanks, the better will be the necessary deposition
and precipitation of the solid matter in the sewage.
The walls of the tanks inside should be built with glazed or porcelained faced
brick.
The floors of the tank should be made with Seysel asphalte or other suitable material
so as to present a smooth surface to the sewage.
Railways of such a narrow guage as to be suitable for hand railway trucks should be
made in the tanks and run on lines parallel with the four walls of the tanks and
intersect each other at right angles.
The walls of the tanks when they rise to the plane of the surface of the floor of
the tank should be built with arches having as their base the line of such plane.
These arches should be built at equal distances from each other.
The centre of each of these arches should be in line with the middle of the narrow
guage railway.
These arches may be say 8 feet wide and 10 or 12 feet high.
On the outside and on each of the four sides of the tanks lines of railway should be
constructed so as to communicate by means of sidings with the nearest railway system
and canal and navigable river and stream and the public highway, as may be found
necessary or expedient. The rail of the railway nearest to the wall should be say 2 feet
from the wall.
The metalling of the permanent way of the railways should be of Seysel asphalte
or other like suitable material.
There should be drains at fixed intervals communicating with the outfall of the
main sewer or drain so that when in the course of emptying the tank if any of
the sewage should fall on the railroad it will be readily taken to the outfall on the
application of water by means of a hose.
The best place for these drains would be the point corresponding to the centre of
the ordinary railway truck and to such point the surface of the bed of the railroad
should incline and converge.
The line of the middle of the hand truck railway before referred to should as far as
may be fall to the centre point of the floor of an ordinary railway goods truck of
say 12 feet long, when on the railway.
This ordinary goods truck should have low sides and have fitted to its area boxes
with close fitting loose covers so that the hand truck of the railway in the tank bringing
out from the tank the solid matter of the sewage may be tipped into the boxes.
The boxes being filled and the covers placed on them may be taken by means of
the railway, canal or navigable river or stream or public highway to any farm or
garden to be emptied on the lands of any farm or garden to be manured by
the contents.
.
Convenient ordinary four wheeled carriages should be provided adapted to take
the boxes upon arrival at the termination of the railway or canal or navigable river
or stream or public highway journey on to the lands of the farm.or garden.
Cranes with proper appliances should be provided at such termination for transferring
the boxes to the carriages provided. The boxes when emptied will be returned by the
route of departure.

page_text: The level of the floor of the tank may be say 2 feet above the level of the floor of
the ordinary railway goods truck.
The arches of the wall will be fitted with water tight doors opening outwards for
use when the tank shall be emptied.
The floor of the arches on the outside of the wall and towards the line of railway
where the ordinary railway goods trucks are should be provided with a flap to fall
over the edge of the box in the railway goods truck for convenience in tipping the
hand railway trucks into the box.
At one of the four corners of the tank I erect an iron tube in connection with
the outfall of the main sewer or drain and capable of carrying all the sewage into
the tank.
Also an iron tube for the purpose of conveying into the tank a proper and sufficient
quantity of porous carbon, or basic cinder or slag the refuse of steel works, or lime
(kilned) or gypsum or such other suitable precipitate as from time to time may be
found to be best for the purpose, such precipitate where necessary to be ground to a
fine powder and mixed with water as a flux, to run into the sewage as it falls into
the tank.
In the selection of the precipitate preference should be given to such as when mixed
with the solid matter of the sewage will be of commercial value as part of the manure
formed by the combination of the solid matter of the sewage and such precipitate and
in such selection regard may be had to the nature of the soil to which the manure may
probably be applied; all which precipitates are hereinafter referred to as " suitable
precipitates."
These tubes will be carried to the height of the wall of the tank and which for
elucidation is taken to be 100 feet above the surface of the floor of the tank.
These tubes will be carried over the top of the wall 100 feet high to the inside of
the tank by means of a curved part in continuation of the tube and will be continued
down into the tank by means of further tubing to the depth of say ten feet below
the 100 feet height referred to, as regards the tube conveying the sewage and so far
as the top at the back of the fan shaped piece next referred to as regards the suitable
precipitates.
At the bottom of this ten feet of tube, where the tube conveying the sewage ends,
it will be fitted into a fan shaped piece or mouth compressed at the outlet and having
the lips of such mouth curled slightly downwards so as to produce a spray like jet of
the sewage cast in a downward direction and at the top of the back of the fan shaped
piece near the point where the sewage tube fits into it a similar fan shaped piece will
be fitted into the tube conveying the suitable precipitates and so in like manner to
the aforesaid produce a spray like jet of the suitable precipitates and slightly above
that of the sewage.
The fan shaped piece or mouth terminating the tube conveying the sewage should
at its back part be rectangular in form and be affixed to the rectangle formed by the
junction of the two walls meeting at the corner.
The fan shaped piece through which the suitable precipitates pass will be
analogous in character and fit up to the column of the tube conveying the
sewage.
The mouth or outlet of each of the fan shaped pieces may be some 3 or 4 feet
from the nearest line of its tube where it fits into the fan shaped piece or mouth.
At the height of 91 feet above the floor of the tank fix a grill of iron bars to the
four walls of the tank and covering the whole area of the tank less the portions
occupied by the diameter of the iron tubes conveying the sewage and suitable
precipitates respectively to the fan shaped pieces or mouth respectively in the tank,
and less the diameter of the syphon hereafter referred to.
The iron bars of such grill may be say 2 inches apart.
Upon this grill I place rough rhomboid shaped stones of iron ore or limestone
(not kilned) or flints or pebbles from rivers or brooks or the sea shore or of pumice
stone or of scoriæ or of like suitable material of corresponding form to the height of
say 2 feet from the level of the grill.

page_text: These pieces of suitable porous material may be some 6 or 7 inches in diameter.
Upon the first layer of suitable porous material 1 place a layer of rough rhomboid
shaped suitable porous material to the height of another 2 feet. These pieces of
suitable porous material may be some 3 or 4 inches in diameter.
To the second layer of suitable porous material add another layer of rough rhomboid
shaped suitable porous material to the height of another 2 feet. These last mentioned
should be smaller than the preceding and may be some 2 or 3 inches in diameter.
Then add another layer of still smaller pieces of suitable porous material to the
height of 8 inches and yet another layer of still smaller pieces of suitable porous
material to the height of 8 inches and yet still a final layer of still smaller pieces of
suitable porous material to the height of 8 inches and these last pieces may be as small
as rough coarse sand.
Or in the alternative, in laying the three last mentioned layers of smaller and
smaller and still smaller pieces of suitable porous material instead of such pieces of
suitable porous material use corresponding sized pieces of porous carbon or basic cinder
or slag the refuse of steel works or gypsum.
Then I place and fix over the whole surface of such last mentioned pieces of
small suitable porous material plate of corrugated iron punctured with small holes,
such placing to be made at a low angle towards one of the 4 walls of the tank and a
little above the height of 99 feet from the floor of the tank, so as to afford space
for the lifting of the suitable porous material by the rising of the water from
below. The lines of corrugation should be at right angles with such last mentioned
wall.
The foregoing may be varied if deemed expedient and if such variation should not
be found unduly expensive, by using a spongy iron filter instead of the last 2 feet
of three several smaller and smaller and smaller pieces of suitable porous material.
In the event however of this being preferred the component parts of the spongy iron
filter should be inverted in the order of their position.
The top of the last mentioned wall towards which the plates of corrugated iron
will be inclined should have its top formed and constructed at the height of the
99 feet as and for the bed of a river or stream of water and serve to carry away
the water as it filters through and flows from and over the corrugated iron to an
outlet.
The mouth of this outlet should be so constructed as to utilise the stream for
turning a water wheel or wheels-say-one of 90 feet in diameter-or-two of
45 feet in diameter each-or three of 30 feet in diameter each (preferably three of
30 feet in diameter) and such 2 or 3 wheels may be placed continuously one after
another.
The power thus obtained may be utilised for the purpose of pumping the suitable
precipitates from a reservoir into the tank or any other purpose for which water
power can be applied such as the production of electricity for electric lighting or
other purposes to which electricity may be applied.
It would be well that this stream should be turned inland and stocked with fish
before the waters fall into the sea or tidal river or other stream. It should be made
available too for purposes of irrigation.
As the result of the several processes and provisions pertaining to the water, after
its separation from the solid part of the sewage it is considered that the water will
become oxygenated and aerated and be as pure as that found in an ordinary natural
spring or well.
This stream may also be utilised as a means of conveying the solid matter of the
sewage in barges on to the land adjoining the banks of such stream.
The tube commencing at the outfall of the main sewer or drain as also the tube
for the suitable precipitate and that of the syphon hereafter mentioned should be
enclosed in a turret like tower at the corner of the tank against which it is set up
and such tower should have a staircase leading to the top of the wall.
The top of the wall should have a roadway round.its four sides.

page_text: The walls should be surmounted on the outer side with a breast wall battle-
mented.
The tank should be roofed some ten or twelve feet above the level of the corrugated
iron and weather boards should be erected in the lines of and as part of the four
sides of the outer supports of the roof.
At the outfall of the main sewer or drain proper and sufficient tests should be
applied for the purpose of ascertaining the temperature of the sewage and when it is
found to be of the degree of fermentation or putrefaction or above fermentation or
putrefaction diluted nitric acid or other suitable chemical or chemicals should
be applied in proper and sufficient quantities so that it in combination with the
ammonia or other substance or substances present in the sewage may bring about a
temperature above the degree of freezing and below the degree of fermentation or
putrefaction; or otherwise by chemical action prevent the creation of sewage gas
and the fermentation and putrefaction of matter in the sewage and also hold the
germs of disease in a state of suspended animation.
In like manner to the application of diluted nitric acid or other suitable chemical
or chemicals at the outfall of the main sewer or drain, so diluted nitric acid or other
suitable chemical or chemicals in proper and sufficient quantities should be applied
at the water closet and the kitchen waste drain or trap and all other domestic drains
or traps at the time of use so that the contents of the W.C. the kitchen drain or trap
or other domestic drain or trap shall at the moment of use on receiving sewage
matter receiving also the diluted nitric acid or other suitable chemical or chemicals
in proper and sufficient quantities there shall be brought about in such sewage
matter a chemical action, in preventation of the degree of heat necessary to produce
fermentation or putrefaction to keep the temperature of the sewage above freezing
and below fermentation or putrefaction or otherwise prevent the creation of sewage
gas and hold the germs of disease in a state of suspended animation.
As regards fermentation or putrefaction it may be well here to emphasize the
fact that while many substances in various combinations with other substances bring
about fermentation or putrefaction at different degrees of temperature yet it may be
fairly taken as a rough figure of sufficient accuracy that there is always a difference
of ten (10) degrees between freezing and fermentation or putrefaction.
In dealing with this part of the question the aim is on the one hand, never to
produce so low a degree of temperature as to cause freezing-nor on the other hand
so high a degree of temperature as to cause fermentation or putrefaction.
As regards the W.C. the necessary action may be brought about by a cistern
containing the diluted nitric acid or other suitable chemical or chemicals being
connected with the handle of the W.C. so that the lifting up of the handle of the
W.C. will bring into the pan of the W.C. the water from the water cistern con-
currently with the diluted nitric acid or other suitable chemical or chemicals from
the cistern containing it.
As regards the kitchen waste drain or trap and all other domestic drains or traps
the necessary action may be brought about by the flap or door of the drain being
connected with the cistern containing the diluted nitric acid or other suitable
chemical or chemicals so that on the flap or door of the drain falling to let the sewage
matter pass through into the sewer it will automatically open the tap of the cistern
containing the diluted nitric acid or other suitable chemical or chemicals so that the
chemical or chemicals will concurrently pass with the sewage into the sewer.
As regards the several modes indicated for applying the diluted nitric acid or
other suitable chemical to the W.C. drain, kitchen waste drain and other domestic
drains and having regard to the difference of ten (10) degrees given above as a rough
figure between freezing and fermentation or putrefaction it may be found expedient
and sufficiently effective as regards existing dwelling houses and other domestic
places if a carboy or other suitable vessel containing dilute nitric acid, or other
suitable chemical adapted to produce in the sewage a degree of coldness between
freezing and fermentation or putrefaction be placed at or near to the point of
-

page_text: juncture of the domestic drainage system with the common sewer: such carboy or
other suitable vessel being so constructed, tapped and fixed that the dilute nitric acid
or other suitable chemical will fall drop by drop into the sewage and bring about the
required degree of coldness all which several chemicals whether specified or only
referred to are hereinafter comprised within the term suitable cold producing
chemicals.
It may be found desirable at certain points where the main sewer is joined by
side sewers to test the degree of temperature and add to the sewage suitable cold
producing chemicals so as to bring about the requisite degree of temperature above
freezing and below fermentation or putrefaction and prevent the creation of sewage
gas and also hold the germs of disease in a state of suspended animation. Means
may be devised to bring about this action automatically with the aid of a thermometer
or other suitable instrument.
Failing the last mentioned provision all reasonable purposes may be fairly answered
by roughly taking a mean average of the temperature and quantity of sewage and
the per centage of ammonia or other chemical substances present in the sewage and
then at such points of junction of side sewers with the main sewer to apply the
requisite quantity of suitable cold producing chemicals to keep the degree of
temperature in the sewage above freezing and below fermentation or putrefaction,
and prevent the creation of sewage gas and also hold the germs of disease in a state
of suspended animation.
It will be desirable when the first tank is in the course of being filled that is to
say in regard to the solid matter to cease, at intervals, from pumping into it. The
pumping at such intervals should be into the second tank.
By this means a certain quietude will from time to time be produced in the sewage
and such quietude will help the deposition and precipitation of the solid matter. The
pumping into the first tank being from time to time resumed and ultimately, the
tank filled and ready to be emptied there will be at the top of the sewage a layer of
water in the line of the plane of the fan shaped piece of about a foot or two in depth
and heighth; also certain waters in the interstices between the pieces of suitable
porous material. These several waters before commencing to empty the Tanks of the
solid matter of the sewage should be drawn off by means of a syphon which should
carry these waters into the outfall of the main sewer or drain.
The object of this last provision is to make the solid part of the sewage as dry as
possible when being taken from the tank.
The state of the sewage at the point indicated as the top of the sewage may be
seen by means of a window at that point and coequal with it in heighth and depth
filled with plate glass of proper and sufficient strength and clearness and facing on to
the turret stairs inside the turret.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Sewage.
I, THOMAS DONNITHORNE, of Laurel Cottage, Mill Hill, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the naturo of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
At the outfall of the main sewer or drain of a sewage system I erect high above
the surface of the ground two or more tanks, preferably two, because the larger
the area and the greater the height of the tanks, the better will be the necessary
deposition and precipitation of the solid matter in the sewage, and which tanks are
hereinafter called the primary or deposition and precipitation tanks and are
intended for the primary deposition and precipitation of the solid matter of the

page_text: The walls of the tanks inside should be built with glazed or porcelained faced
brick.
The floors of the tanks should be made with Seysel asphalte or other suitable material
so as to present a smooth surface to the sewage.
Railways of such a narrow gauge as to be suitable for hand railway trucks should
be made in the tanks and run on lines parallel with the four walls of the tanks and
intersect each other at right angles.
The walls of the tanks when they rise to the plane of the surface of the floor of
the tank should be built with arches having as their base the line of such plane.
These arches should be built at equal distances from each other.
The centre of each of these arches should be in line with the middle of the narrow
guage railway.
These arches may be say 8 feet wide and 10 or 12 feet high.
On the outside and on each of the four sides of the tanks lines of railway should
should be constructed so as to communicate by means of sidings with the nearest
railway system and canal and navigable river and stream and the public highway, as
may be found necessary or expedient. The rail of the railway nearest to the wall
should be say 2 feet from the wall.
The metalling of the permanent way of the railways should be of Seysel asphalte
or other like suitable material.
There should be drains at fixed intervals communicating with the outfall of the
main sewer or drain so that when in the course of emptying the tank if any of the
sewage should fall on the railroad it will be readily taken to the outfall on the appli-
cation of water by means of a hose.
The best place for these drains would be the point corresponding to the centre of
the ordinary railway truck and to such point the surface of the bed of the railroad
should incline and converge.
The line of the middle of the hand truck railway before referred to should as far
as may be fall to the centre point of the floor of an ordinary railway goods truck of
say 12 feet long, when on the railway.
This ordinary goods truck should have low sides and have fitted to its area boxes
with close fitting loose covers so that the hand truck of the railway in the tank
bringing out from the tank the solid matter of the sewage may be tipped into the
boxes.
The boxes being filled and the covers placed on them may be taken by means
of the railway, canal or navigable river or stream or public highway to any farm
or garden to be emptied on the lands of any farm or garden to be manured by the
contents.
Convenient ordinary four wheeled carriages should be provided adapted to take the
boxes upon arrival at the termination of the railway or canal or navigable river or
stream or public highway journey on to the lands of the farm or garden.
Cranes with proper appliances should be provided at such termination for trans-
ferring the boxes to the carriages provided. The boxes when emptied will be
returned by the route of departure or in the alternative the ordinary four wheeled
carriages may be placed on properly constructed and adapted railway trucks in
the first instance and loaded with the boxes and thereby save one handling of the
boxes in the course of transmission from the tanks to the destination of the sewage
manure.
The level of the floor of the tank may be say 2 feet above the level of the floor
of the ordinary railway goods truck.
The arches of the walls will be fitted with water tight doors opening outwards
for use when the tank shall be emptied.
The floor of the arches on the outside of the wall and towards the line of
railway where the ordinary railway goods trucks are should be provided with a
flap to fall over the edge of the box in the railway goods truck for convenience of
tipping the hand railway trucks into the box.

page_text: At one of the four corners of the tank shown in the drawing hereunto annexed
I erect an iron tube A in connection with the outfall of the main sewer or drain
and capable of carrying all the sewage into the tank.
Also an iron tube B for the purpose of conveying into the tank a proper and
sufficient quantity of alum, or alum in combination with lime-kilned in the pro-
portion of say 3 of lime to one of alum, or basic-cinder or slag the refuse of steel
works or borax or camphor or chalk or chalk-kilned or magnetic precipitant the
discovery and invention of Mr. F. Candy described in the specification of Patent
No. 91024 as mineralized carbon or gypsum or lime-kilned or sulphate of iron or
such other suitable precipitate as from time to time may be found to be best for the
purpose, such precipitate where necessary to be ground to a fine powder and mixed
with water as a flux, to run into the sewage as it falls into the tank.
For magnetic precipitant see the Specification of Patent 13829 of 1886.
For mineralized carbon see the Specification of Patent 910284.
"Nitrate" is a separate substance. It is not connected with porous carbon. It is
not a patented article and is a well known commercial commodity and valuable as a
manure.
With regard to the proper and sufficient quantity of the several precipitants it will
be found necessary to analyse and ascertain the several substances present in the
different sewage and realising which precipitant may be best adapted to any given
sewage.
The percentage of solid matter of the precipitant to be added to the sewage should
be from two to five per cent.
For example taking the sewage of London as an illustration and which is said in
round figures to be composed of-say-98 per cent. of water to 2 per cent. of solid
matter then 2 per cent. of-say-lime (kilned) and reduced to powder and held in
solution for the purpose of precipitation may be found the proper and sufficient quantity
to add to the sewage in the way indicated by means of the fan shaped piece erected
and set up for that purpose.
Again it is intended that the substance to be employed as a precipitant should be of
value as a manure to be added to the original manurial properties of the sewage
manure and that the manurial property of the precipitant so added should be adapted
to the soil to which the compound sewage manure is subsequently to be applied. Two
places two manures. Two manures two different precipitants.
In thus stating the several matters in regard to the precipitants it will be seen too
that we are landed in the wide field of specific gravity and specific gravity must
necessarily play some part in the ascertainment of the proper and sufficient
quantity.
It is impossible without experiment to fix exact quantities for different sewages.
In the selection of the precipitate preference should be given to such as when mixed
with the solid matter of the sewage will be of commercial value as part of the manure
formed by the combination of the solid matter of the sewage and such precipitate and
in such selection regard may be had to the nature of the soil to which the manure
may probably be applied; all which precipitates are hereinafter referred to as "suitable
precipitates.'
These tubes will be carried to the height of the wall of the tank C and which for
elucidation is taken to be 100 feet above the surface of the floor of the tank.
These tubes will be carried over the top of the wall 100 feet high to the inside of
the tank by means of a curved part in continuation of the tube and will be continued
down into the tank by means of further tubing to the depth of say ten feet below
the 100 feet height referred to, as regards the tube conveying the sewage and so
far as the top at the back of the fan shaped piece next referred to as regards the
suitable precipitates.
At the bottom of this ten feet of tube, where the tube conveying the sewage
ends, it will be fitted into a fan shaped piece D or mouth compressed at the outlet
and having the lips of such mouth curled slightly downwards so as to produce a
spray like jet of the sewage cast in a downward direction and at the top of the

page_text: back of the fan shaped piece near the point where the sewage tube fits into it a
similar fan shaped piece E will be fitted into the tube conveying the suitable pre-
cipitates and so in like manner to the aforesaid produce a spray like jet of the
suitable precipitates and slightly above that of the sewage.
The fan shaped piece or mouth terminating the tube conveying the sewage should
at its back part be rectangular in form and be affixed to the rectangle formed by
the junction of the two walls meeting at the corner.
The fan shaped piece through which the suitable precipitates pass will be analogous
in character and fit up to the column of the tube conveying the sewage.
The mouth or outlet of each of the fan shaped pieces may be some 3 or 4 feet
from the nearest line of its tube where it fits into the fan shaped piece or mouth.
At the height of 91 feet above the floor of the tank fix a grill of iron bars to
the four walls of the tank and covering the whole area of the tank less the portions
occupied by the diameter of the iron tubes conveying the sewage and suitable pre-
cipitates respectively to the fan shaped pieces or mouth respectively in the tank, and
less the diameter of the syphon hereafter referred to.
The iron bars of such grill may be say 2 inches apart.
Upon this grill I place rough rhomboid shaped stones of gypsum or iron ore or
limestone (not kilned) or pumice stone or sand stone or scoriæ or stone of coral reef
from Coral Reef Islands or of other natural porous filtering stone or flints or
pebbles from rivers or brooks or the sea shore or other suitable material of corre-
sponding form to the height of say 2 feet from the level of the grill.
These pieces of suitable porous material may be some 6 or 7 inches in diameter.
Upon the first layer of suitable porous material I place a layer of rough rhomboid
shaped suitable porous material to the height of another feet. These pieces of
suitable porous material may be some 3 or 4 inches in diameter.
To the second layer of suitable porous material add another layer of rough
rhomboid shaped suitable porous material to the height of another 2 feet. These
last mentioned should be smaller than the preceding and may be some 2 or 3 inches
in diameter.
Then add another layer of still smaller pieces of suitable porous material to the
height of 8 inches and yet another layer of still smaller pieces of suitable porous
material to the height of 8 inches and yet still a final layer of still smaller pieces
of suitable porous material to the height of 8 inches and these last pieces may be as
small as rough coarse sand.
Or in the alternative, in laying the three last mentioned layers of smaller and
smaller and still smaller pieces of suitable porous material instead of such pieces of
suitable porous material use corresponding sized pieces of basic-cinder or slag the
refuse of steel works or ferozone or gypsum or magnetic spongy carbon or porous
carbon or sulphate of iron or other porous and water purifying material which may be
found best suited to the purpose.
Then I place and fix over the whole surface of such last mentioned pieces of small
suitable porous material plates of corrugated iron punctured with small holes, such
placing to be made at a low angle towards one of the 4 walls of the tank and a little
above the height of 99 feet from the floor of the tank, so as to afford space for the
lifting of the suitable porous material by the rising of the water from below. The
lines of corrugation should be at right angles with such last mentioned wall.
The foregoing may be varied if deemed expedient and if such variation should not
be found unduly expensive, by using a spongy iron filter instead of the last 2 feet of
three several smaller and smaller and smaller pieces of suitable porous material. In
the event however of this being preferred the component parts of the spongy iron
filter should be inverted in the order of their position.
The top of the last mentioned wall towards which the plates of corrugated iron will
be inclined should have its top formed-and constructed at the height of the 99 feet as
and for the bed of a river or stream of water and serve to carry away the water as it
filters through and flows from and over the corrugated iron to an outlet.
The mouth of this outlet should be so constructed as to utilise the stream for

page_text: urning a water wheel or wheels-say-one of 90 feet in diameter-or-two of
15 feet in diameter each-or three of 30 feet in diameter each (preferably three of
30 feet in diameter) and such 2 or 3 wheels may be placed continuously one after
nother.
The power thus obtained may be utilised for the purpose of pumping the suitable
precipitates from a reservoir into the tank or any other purpose for which water
power can be applied, such as the production of electricity for electric lighting,
electric boats, electric railways, electric tramways, or other purposes to which electricity
may be applied.
It would be well that this stream should be turned inland and stocked with fish
It should be made
before the waters fall into the sea or tidal river or other stream.
available too for purposes of irrigation.
Regard being had to the several different and varying substances which go to
make up sewage under the several different and varying circumstances in which it is
produced as also to the natural, as well as to the varying subsequent condition of
the waters which compose by far the greatest part of the bulk of sewage: it may be
found necessary to subject the water from the river or stream at the top of the
Primary or deposition and precipitation tanks to a process or succession of processes
of further purification and filtration, the number of such processes or succession of
processes being one or more as may be determined after experiment in relation to the
state of the water and as may be deemed desirable: or may be even with and after
the manner in point of number of the water supply companies who obtaining water
from the Thames or other natural source of supply filter and purify such water
some 2 or 3 or more times, one after the other, before pumping it into the mains for
use in London. In such case the additional tanks of the requisite number will be
built in continuation of and in proximity to the primary tanks and in all respects
constructed after the manner of the primary tanks except that no pumping will be
required other than for the purpose of applying some water purifying chemical or
chemicals or process or processes and varying in the several successive Secondary
tanks, because the water of the river or stream proceeding from the top of the
Primary tank will be turned on to and fall into the nearest Secondary tank and
so on thereafter and in like manner and in succession to the several Secondary tanks
until the requisite degree of purity of the water is obtained.
The stream of the last of such Secondary tanks will be applied to the water-wheel or
wheels, as indicated, and thence be conveyed to the other ways and purposes which
form part of the system covered by the invention. Such last mentioned tanks are
hereinafter called the secondary or water purifying tanks.
The Inventor in his plans contemplates making provision for rain fall and this
therefore must be present to the mind in fixing the number of the secondary or
water-purifying tanks.
As the result of the several processes and provisions pertaining to the water, after
its separation from the solid part of the sewage it is considered that the water will
become oxygenated and aerated and be as pure as that found in an ordinary natural
spring or well.
This stream may also be utilised as a means of conveying the solid matter of the
sewage in barges on to the land adjoining the banks of such stream.
The tube commencing at the outfall of the main sewer or drain as also the tube for
the suitable precipitate and that of the syphon hereafter mentioned should be enclosed
in a turret like tower at the corner of the tank against which it is set up and such
tower should have a staircase leading to the top of the wall.
The top of the wall should have a roadway round its four sides.
The walls should be surmounted on the outer side with a breast wall battlemented.
Under some circumstances of climatic influence and the like it may be found
desirable that the tanks, as well primary as secondary should be roofed some ten or
twelve feet above the level of the corrugated iron and weather boards should be
erected in the lines of and as part of the four sides of the outer supports of
11

page_text: At the outfall of the main sewer or drain proper and sufficient tests should be
applied for the purpose of ascertaining the temperature of the sewage and when it is
found to be of the degree of fermentation or putrefaction or above fermentation or
putrefaction diluted nitric acid or other suitable chemical or chemicals should be
applied in proper and sufficient quantities so that it in combination with the ammonia
or other substance or substances present in the sewage may bring about a temperature
above the degree of freezing and below the degree of fermention or putrefaction ;
or otherwise by chemical action prevent the creation of sewage gas and the fermen-
tation and putrefaction of matter in the sewage and also hold the germs of disease in
a state of suspended animation.
In like manner to the application of diluted nitric acid or other suitable chemical or
chemicals at the outfall of the main sewer or drain, so diluted nitric acid or other
suitable chemical or chemicals in proper and sufficient quantities should be applied at
the water closet and the kitchen waste drain or trap and all other domestic drains or
traps at the time of use so that the contents of the W.C. the kitchen drain or trap
or other domestic drain or trap shall at the moment of use on receiving sewage
matter receiving also the diluted nitric acid or other suitable chemical or chemicals
in proper and sufficient quantities there shall be brought about in such sewage
matter a chemical action, in preventation of the degree of heat necessary to produce
fermentation or putrefaction to keep the temperature of the sewage above freezing
and below fermentation or putrefaction or otherwise prevent the creation of sewage
gas and hold the germs of disease in a state of suspended animation.
As regards fermentation or putrefaction it may be well here to emphasize the fact
that while many substances in various combinations with other substances bring about
fermentation or putrefaction at different degrees of temperature yet it may be fairly
taken as a rough figure of sufficient accuracy that there is always a difference of
ten (10) degrees between freezing and fermentation or putrefaction.
In dealing with this part of the question the aim is on the one hand, never to
produce so low a degree of temperature as to cause freezing-nor on the other hand
so high a degree of temperature as to cause fermentation or putrefaction.
It may be expected too that the stream of sewage being thus kept in a state of
coldness, the water part, acting as the means of conveyance of the solid part to the
outfall, will be more rapid in its course than if the sewage were left in its heated and
fermenting condition.
As regards the W.C. the necessary action may be brought about by a cistern
containing the diluted nitric acid or other suitable chemical or chemicals being con-
nected with the handle of the W.C. so that the lifting up of the handle of the W.C.
will bring into the pan of the W.C. the water from the water cistern concurrently
with the diluted nitric acid or other suitable chemical or chemicals from the cistern
containing it.
As regards the kitchen waste drain or trap and all other domestic drains or traps
the necessary action may be brought about by the flap or door of the drain being
connected with the cistern containing the diluted nitric acid or other suitable chemical
or chemicals so that on the flap or door of the drain falling to let the sewage matter
pass through into the sewer it will automatically open the tap of the cistern containing
the diluted nitric acid or other suitable chemical or chemicals so that the chemical or
chemicals will concurrently pass with the sowage into the sewer.
As regards the several modes indicated for applying the diluted nitric acid or other
suitable chemical to the W.C. drain, kitchen waste drain and other domestic drains
and having regard to the difference of ten (10) degrees given above as a rough figure
between freezing and fermentation or putrefaction it may be found expedient and
sufficiently effective as regards existing dwelling houses and other domestic places if
a carboy or other suitable vessel containing dilute nitric acid, or other suitable
chemical adapted to produce in the sewage a degree of coldness between freezing and
fermentation or putrefaction be placed at or near to the point of juncture of the
domestic drainage system with the common sewer; such carboy or other suitable vessel
being so constructed tapped and fixed that the dilute nitric acid or other suitable

page_text: chemical will fall drop by drop into the sewage and bring about the required
degree of coldness all which several chemicals whether specified or only referred to
are hereinafter comprised within the term suitable cold producing chemicals.
It may be found desirable at certain points where the main sewer is joined by
side sewers to test the degree of temperature and add to the sewage suitable cold
producing chemicals so as to bring about the requisite degree of temperature above
freezing and below fermentation or putrefaction and prevent the creation of sewage
gas and also hold the germs of disease in a state of suspended animation. Means
may be devised to bring about this action automatically with the aid of a thermometer
or other suitable instrument.
Failing the last mentioned provision all reasonable purposes may be fairly answered
by roughly taking a mean average of the temperature and quantity of sewage and
the per centage of ammonia or other chemical substances present in the sewage and
then at such points of junction of side sewers with the main sewer to apply the
requisite quantity of suitable cold producing chemicals to keep the degree of
temperature in the sewage above freezing and below fermentation or putrefaction,
and prevent the creation of sewage gas and also hold the germs of disease in a state
of suspended animation.
It will be desirable when the first Primary tank is in the course of being filled
that is to say in regard to the solid matter to cease, at intervals, from pumping into
it. The pumping at such intervals should be into the second tank.
By this means a certain queitude will from time to time be produced in the sewage
and such quietude will help the deposition and precipitation of the solid matter. The
pumping into the first Primary tank being from time to time resumed and ultimately,
the Primary tank filled and ready to be emptied there will be at the top of the sewage
a layer of water in the line of the plane of the fan shaped piece of about a foot or
two in depth and height; also certain waters in the interstices between the pieces of
suitable porous material. These several waters before commencing to empty the
tanks of the solid matter of the sewage should be drawn off by means of a syphon or
other suitable means which should carry these waters into the outfall of the main
sewer or drain.
The object of this last provision is to make the solid part of the sewage as dry as
possible when being taken from the tank.
The state of the sewage in the Primary tanks as also of the water in the secondary
tanks may be seen by means of one or more windows, pierced in the wall of the tank
facing on to the stair of such tank. Each window should be glazed with one piece
of thick clear plate glass of proper and sufficient strength so that through it the
sewage may be seen and the processes of deposition and precipitation going on in the
Primary tanks as also the condition and clearness of the water in the secondary
tanks.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
My improvements in the treatment of sewage substantially as herein described.
THOS. DONNITHORNE.