EFFICIENCY OF SEPTIC TANKS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12936, 16 October 1907, Page 8

EFFICIENCY OF SEPTIC TANKS.

THE QUESTION OF POLLUTION OF

STREAMS,

Tlie efficiency of septic tanks trae referred to durine a dismission at the meeting of tho Drainage Board last night, when Mr Wilfred Halle *pplication to metal a tank on hie property was under consideration. I'll© Works Comnuueo reported that they had lnspiwted tiio premises of Mr xxafl, Clydo road, in connection -with tho application from Messrs HiUon and Catto to metal a wptio taak, the ef : fluent to flow into the Waimari srtream ; and rooommonded that the application be rernsed. Air nail wrote that thore need bo no* pollution of the stream, as the eFflucrit from a properly eeptic tauk, as shown by analysis in too po69f«ion or Catto, was purer than the stream itself; in addition it would deal with waete water which, like everyone in the neighbourhood, tho writer discharged straight into -de stream. This wouid reduce the amount of pollution iuriu-ad of inoreasine it. tio thought the Board would find it quite impracticable to prevent all nouses in Fendalton and other euburba from emptying their washing ftlops into stroarus unices the Board provided 6OUIO other means of disposing pf them. It would bo quite intolerable ior houses on email eections to dietributo these on the surface of their land, and even if they wero discharged into pits, tho danger to health would be very considerable. In hie case the subsoil was clay resting on a hard oonand the water wouid only run away very slowly, and in rainy weather the pit would very soon fill and overflow. It seemed a little unreasonable to object to the email amount of impurity- which might at time* (through mismanagement) com* from the soptic tank when the Board made no objection to tho very large amount of sewage flowing into tho river from the ditches which drained Ricoarton and the Lincoln road, and which emptied into the rivor, one opposite tho middle of the Public Gardens and the othiT near the Hospital, aud flowed right through tho city between ornamental grass plots and flower beds. He felt sure the Board would do something to remedy this beloro long. "Would it not, therefore, be wiee, ,, he asked, "to encourage individuals who are willing to go to some expense in trying to solve this problem P" He pointed out that in the tanks provided by Mr Catto'e company it wae perfectly easy to inspect tho cfiluent at any time, both betore and altor filtration, as it was an essential part of the gystem that this portion of the tank should be fully exposed to the light and air. lie was. prepared to pay a fee to cover cost of frequent inspection, if the Board thought such was necessary. Ho did not anticipate that there would bo a groat rush of applications for permits for tanks if his was granted, as the installation wa* fairly expensive and the majority of people would be inclined to. await the" result of his experiment. Ho mentioned that Dr. Finch, the District Health Officer, had inspected tbe offluent from a eeptic tank, similar to the one he prop s.ed metalling, and wa* very favourably impressed with it. The writer conlonded that if the Board refused his application, they would be standing in the way of their principal function —enabling people to dispose of their sewage without endangering the h&alth of tho community. Hβ concluded: "I do not'belter* that the members of the Board are of the ultraconßorvative type which refuse* to adopt rejorms on prinoiple,.*ad I O/Uite sympathise with anyone wbi> heiitites to sanction the expenditure of public money in rash experim»n.t*|ftißei>eeially after' tho failure of the old type of septic tank. But here it is no question of public money, and surely because one experiment - ha* proved a failure it is no reason why/we should not try another on somewhat different lines, especially when the* cost.of the risk oP failure will bo shouldered by the enterprising private individual." Tho chairman of the Board (Mr Walter Hill) remarked that the revolution Inst agreed to on the subject provided that the effluent from any septic tank authorised must be retiafactory to tho District Health Officer. It would be , necessary, be thought, to appoint an inspector to inspect »H septic tanks and to see that streams were not polluted. Hβ thought Mr Hall's application should, be granted, as the Board had power to prevent the discharge of the effluent if it was not satlatoactory Mr S. A. Staples pointed out that if t>.ey grwited mnny application* and endeavoured afterwards to *top toe diechaTge of effluent there would be aucb an outcry that the Board would be unable to carry out their decision. Mr J. Forrester suggested tbat tho»e who got permission to instal eeptio tanks ehould provide a deep well to augment tho volume of water m the streams. Mr H. T. Otley said thet the jque*tion of granting applications hinged on the size of the stream into which tho effluent was to be discharged.

It was Btated that the Wairoari w about cix feet wide and the depth of water was between 12 and 18 inches. •

Mr Staples said that nearly ewy person along the stream mentioned wee aen inst granting the application. The Chairman, referring to tb* rwit of inspection by the Works Committoe, eaid that they mw onnnectiont into the stream of euch • character that the effluent from eeptio tanks would be preferable, and that was takinto consideration, the feot that tiie tank* would discharge more than the pipes. Mr A. J. Barlow said that when he saw what ho had Been on the visit referred to he was as strong ae t anyone against septic tanks polluting the streams, and he still held that it was the duty of th© Board to preserve the streams* But after thinking over the matter ho had come to the conclusion that the Board should provide every facility to property owners to get rid of tlioir drainage. If they stopped «fficicnt septic tanks being installed, then the streams would be, probably, polluted in a worse manner. Ho also pointed out the inconsistene.y of the Board in objecting to septic tanks when tlieir own sewage scheme provided for the installation of such. The Works Committee, on their visit, had seen crude slops running into streams, nml some of the outlets were in a filthy state. Dr. Jennines said it seemed to be a question of either septic tanks or cesspools, and he much preferred septic tanks.

jlr Staples sakl tho Works Committoe had cone very carefully into the matter of Mr Hall's application, and those present were unanimous in deciding iinon refnstnc; it. Since then, npnarcntly. somo had altered their oninions. people in Ricearton lived nwny from streams and had to Heal with sonmuda and other eewace the b«t way they could. To grant the anplicnt'on would be % step in the wronsi direftion.

The chnm in th« Works Committee'i rpport (lenlinu with the matter wae n*>catireH. and it wae ajrreed to refer "Sir Hall's annlication hack to the, rornmittee notr«r to act), with « riW of obtainitif? * ntandard of nnritT of efnent from wntic tanks from the District Health Officer, or som" othe* - aiiihority.

On the motion of Mr Stanles. «ccby Mr Barlow, it was ngnHMl: — "Tint it be nn instruction to the in«mec.tnr to visit nil properties above Rwuiirv rond_ and report on premises Jminins offensivematter into the various <ttre.irn« with a view to notice being given to ebnte euch nuisancc.J'