SEPTIC TANKS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13447, 20 November 1907, Page 6

SEPTIC TANKS.

AX, UNSATISFACTORY ONE.

The £7O septic- tank .installed at the Talbot 'Hospital furnished a. text for discussion at the Hospital Board meeting yesterday. The chairman reported that complaint had been,.made by the caretaker that it was inefficient.' Be saw the architect about it,,and Mr• Turnb-ull said he. had a. guarantee from, the:: people wh<* supplied it that it would work satisfactorily, and Mr Turnbull had asked that the -matter > stand" oyer,till'.next,- meeting to permit of his corresponding with the suppliers. In the ' meantime probably • no> harm would-result. Mr Tttrnbull thought the- miscliief ar'ossi. from too much being expected , from the small tank; all the waste water •of the hospital. . being put through it, and it; was incapable of deal-ing-with so much. ■ .'■ Mr Maslih inquired who was responsible for installing a tank that was inefficient with the hospital only half full. Surely the architect ought to have ascertained what sort of tank would be necessary. The chairman said the architect was not to blame. He had got' a. guarantee and had - consulted with Dr Finch, whose expert, Mr Kershaw, supervised the installation of .the tank. The system was yet experimental, though 'the large systems seemed to answer -well.

(Mr Turnbull was sent for, and he explained that Dr Finch suggested the obtaining a, .tank from the. British '•SepticTank Company. He (Mr Turnbull) insisted on a. guarantse, and he produced letters from the company's, representative agreeing to " guarantee' that the sets ■would be perfectly satisfactory." It was thought however'that one tank would bet sufficient at all events to start, with. Mr iMaslm said : these. letters . did not constitute a guarantee; and Mr Coltman', that the offer re.ferred to "two sets."

Mr Cra'.gie said Dr Finch had suggested, that only the closets, should • be put through. Mr - flkmubll said the trouble, according' to the agent, was irregularity of inflow.. The washing witer and bath water went, in too'fast and caused the tank to overflow. could be cut out, and run into tJifo effluent frcih. the tank.

Mr Maslin said soapywater was liable to becoma a dangerous nuisance, as bad as anything-. Mr Turnbuil thought the best thins; to do was to .'sell this: tank (it wouldi suit a private housa very well) and put down a- large septic pit. But lie did not be-X-eve in putting, everytliing through.

Mr Colthlan remarked .that the small ta,nlc was not entirely satisfactory for. a private house, for if th® family took a week's holiday the bacilli died, >and germs had to bet got to replace .them. It was agreed to. leave, the matter with tli3> architect.in themeantime.