Health Officer Discusses Septic Tank Problems With Marton Council

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 May 1948, Page 8

Health Officer Discusses Septic Tank Problems With Marton Council

(0.C.) Zvlarton, May 25. The alleged pollution of the Tutaenui Stream, near Crofton, caused by effluent from two septic tanks, one serving the borough of Marton and the other the railway settlement at Marton Junction was discussed yesterday by the Medical Officer of Health, at Palmerston North, Dr. T. C. Louie, with representatives of the Railways Department and the Marton Borough Council. With Dr. Lonie was the district health inspector, Mr. F. N. Holder Palmerston North), while the Railways Department was represented by the district engineer, Mr. H. S. Stevens. The Deputy-Mayor, C. T. E. Barton, presided and said that the meeting had been called following receipt of a notice by the council that a Supreme , Court action was proposed by a resident of the area whose stock would not drink from the Tutaenui stream. The person was claiming damages from the council and an injunction. The council was concerned about the matter, added Cr. Barton, and with the town clerk, Mr. C- C. McDonald, he had interviewed the man concerned and suggested that if the council provided a free water supply and promised to abate the nuisance he should withdraw the summons. The council had received agreement on this point. “The council admits a nuisance ha. been created, and it is our desire that it be abated,” said Cr. Barton. The council had now asked for guidance from the Health Department. However the Railways Department must be joined with the council in contributory negligence, he said. He thought the department should help with the cost of appeasing the complainant. MATTER FOR COUNTY.

The letter which the council had received from Dr. Lonie, which described the Tutaenui Stream as ar. open sewer” was then read to the meeting. Referring to Dr. Lonie’s suggestion that the borough should also ensure that the railways abate the nuisance caused by its septic tanks, Cr. Barton said that as the Railways Department tank was outside the borough boundary, it would be a matter for the Rangitikei County Council.

Over the years the Marton Borough Council had been more or less satisfied that the septic tank was working efficiently, said Cr. Barton. Until this year there had been no reports to the contrary. Councillors in their own minds, however, had realised that a nuisance had been created and the best thing they could do was to face qp to it and do what they could. Cr. Barton said he had inspected the lank on Sunday morning and found everything in order, but the Tutaenui Stream was in flood. RAILWAYMEN’S CASE.

Describing the Railways Department’s position, Mr. Stevens said the department had about six septic tanks at the Junction, and the effluent from them all was led into one pipe and carried to a filter bed on the bank of the Tutaenui Stream. The department had no septic tank near the council’s while the filter bed would be about two chains away from the council tank, he said. Following complaints about the condition of the bed of the stream, he had instructed his foreman to report on the matter. Thii report stated that the department’s filter was working satisfactorily and that there was a minimum of smell. The council had a septic tank but no filter bed, and the forman thought 95 per cent, of the trouble arose from the borough tank. His department would do its best to abate any nuisance being caused, said Mr. Stevens, but on the suggestion that the department should contribute to ward appeasing the complaining land-owner, he would like more concrete proposals. MEDICAL OFFICERS’ COMMENTS. . When asked for his comments, j)r. Lonie said the borough septic tank would be more heavily worked than the department’s installation. The effluent could be improved by passing it through filters, but it was still noxious and during a dry spell its effects would be more noticeable. All the department asked was that the pollution did not cause an offensive smell or constitute a danger to the community at large. In reply to Cr. A. Gracie, Dr. Lonie said a new filter would improve things. Cr. E. C. Fogel berg suggested that it might be possible to adopt a system of drainage wells to take the effluent during the dry spell. Such a scheme, said Dr. Lonie, might diminish the nuisance if sufficient drainage could be obtained. He pointed out that the borough filter bed was not operating and it would be advisable to attempt to make it operative, or investigate means of installing a new filter system. In reply to Cr. W J. Mogridge, Mr. Holder said he thought the borough’s septic tank system was overtaxed. He suggested that the council contact the Public Works Department, which had designed numerous septic tanks systems for military camps. At the request of the council, Dr. Lonie agreed to submit an opinion on the efficiency of the existing installation together with recommendations for improvements or additional plant considered necessary for a town the size of Marton.