NORTH END SEPTIC TANK.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14321, 11 October 1910, Page 5

NORTH END SEPTIC TANK.

A TEMPORARY BLOCKAGE.""" PETROL ENGINE ASKED FOR. At the meeting of the Borough Council last .night, a letter was received from Mr F. W. Marchant, drainage engineer, asking authority to purchase a small petrol engine and 3-ineh centrifugal pump for use on the sewerage works. It would be useful m many ways and was at present wanted for use at the Benvenue septic tank, where the sludge pips was choked with shingle and there was no high pressure main to enable them to olear it. The cost would be under

Councillor Beck said a centrifugal pump would not work at the north end tank. The stones and erit would break it.

Councillors Watson and Porter thought they might wait until they had a. bigger water pipe down Te Raitaweka road, when they would have a good pressure of water to flush the tank out. In the meantime, said Councillor Porter, they might hire a pump to see how it would work Councillor Angland said that ' Mr Alarchant had informed the Council that the bigger main down Te Raitaweka road would not be necessary, the tank had become blocked with grease and shingle and must be cleaned out. Had Mr Marchant put grease traps in the same as in the systems at Home the trouble might have been averted.

Ihe Deputy-Mayor said the pump might also be needed at the southern septic tank. The pumping would not be continuous. Mr Marchant said it might be required again in six month's time It would cost four times as much to put a new main down Te Raitaweka road as a pump estimated to> cost about £BO.

Councillor Watson said it was another case of shingle shifting. "This man has been on this caper in Timaru for the last 40 years. The thing is ridiculous, absolute ridiculous. We had millions of tons of shingle shifted in Timaru untl they found out that a wall was the proper thng to stop the shingle. Councillor Satterthwaite supported the request of the engineer for the pump on the ground that it would not be asked for if it were not needed. Everything m connection with the drainage work had gone on splendidly. £42,000 had been expended on it so far and it was a credit to Mr Maxcliant and the Council. .'Councillor Beck said he expected the pipe at the tank was solidly jammed and that no flushing of any sort would shift the blockage. The pipes would most .likely have to be lifted. He was not going to blame Mr Marchant, but considered that he was on the wrong track now.

Councillor Raymond understood that the pump a.sked for was necessary to flush the pipes and he intended to vote for it. He had spoken to several engineers relative ta our drainage scheme and all spoke in terms of the highest praise of it. The tank had become blocked with shingle and sludge and it must be cleaned out. Mr Marchant had no further reponsibility in connection with the tank and did not care a dump whether the Council got the pump oar not, but he was advising the Council (gratis) what was best to be done.

Councillor Harney spoke in favour of procuring the pump, and on a vote being taken it was decided that the pump be procured, Messrs Beck and AVatson objecting. Councillor Angland wanted a plan of the pump.

Councillor Raymond doubted whether Councillors would understand it if it were supplied. To such an assertion Councillor Watsna strenuously objected, saying that be could read a plan as well as anybody. Councillor Satterthwaite: "I doubt it."

Councillor Watson promptly and repeatedly demanded the withdrawal erf tins asertioh as a reflection upon his ability. When no withdrawal was forthcoming Councillor Watson declared it was a one-sided show. If he had made such a statement he would have been made to withdraw it.

THE POSITION EXPLAINED. The position was explained to a "Herald" reporter yesterday afternoon by Mr Marchant. It appears that in the first place the sludge pipe for emptying the tank was blocked by a heavy sea which piled up the stones over it and the shingle into it at the outlet. The consequence was that the grease and similar stun* could no* be let out of the tank when it should have been, and so it accumulated round the sludge pipe valve in the bottom of the tank. Now pressure was required either from a water mam or from a pumn to clear away this. An inspection showed that the effluent is as clear as ordinary water, and there is no smell from it. The tank could work for years, said Mr Marchnnt, even without a pump, but the stuff Jiccnmlntes ,the' sludge and grease solid fy in the tank, and the capacity of the tank would therefore be decreased: if this were allowed to go on. in two nr three years the effluent would nnt he as' good ns it should He. The Rorough Engineer was instructed to fake over the com. tMeted portion of the drpnhge works, •l.n!- Mr Mnrrhnnt. told him ho would rather Imtid if over nft-r the sludge in ilio sen)ie timlr hnd been elenred o-t. Tn Hie ~ivi. - nn of is- Marobntrt. t'>--> )-in!v should ho cleared once every three months.