A FEAR DISPELLED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 239, 27 June 1918, Page 6

A FEAR DISPELLED

SEWAGE AT DAY'S BAT. There are those at Day's Bay who are iiot quite satisiied that tho proposed system of septic tanks for the treatment of sewage at Day's J3ay is not going to be an unmixed blessing. Their fear is that the effluent from the tanks to bo erected on the rooks at either horn of the Bay may pollute the beach and become a menace to public health. To get a clear statement and a complete understanding over this matter, a deputation of Day's Bay residents waited on the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) and City Engineer (ilr. W-. H. Morton) yesterday morning, and throTigh Mr. D. M. Findlay expressed the fears that were being felt in some quarters, though he, personally, did not associate himself with those who doubted the effectiveness of the septic tanks to do the work proposed. The Mayor, in reply, simply said that he bad complete confidence in the City Engineer, "and he believed that the residents of the Bay could have similar confidence in Mr. Mirton. ,

The -City Engineer, on being invited to speak, said that it would be difficult to put in any aeptio tank scheme that would be free from criticism. If tho locality were a closely-settled one ho would not jecommend such a system. The septic tanks to be put down would be liquefying tanks, and the effluent would bo taken out at a point five feot below the'surface of the wa'ter at low tide. The discharge would not be appreciable in the sea water. Ho referred to the septic tank system at Island Bay, 6tnting .'that there was no perceptible nuisance there. He was eager himself to maintain the cleanliness and safoty of the bciches about Wellington, and would certainly not recommend any dangerous scheme. He miggested* that if tho rosidents .of Day's Bay had. any doubt on that point they might obtain the opinion of Dr. Frenghy (Chief Health Officer). In replying to a question from Mr. Findlay,-Mr. Morton said that tho proposed scheme was the only practicable one in the circumstances. The system would be able to take household waste water (from kitchen sinks, washing tubs, etc.), but not storm water.