SEWER CASES.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17077, 14 April 1927, Page 8

SEWER CASES.

HAMILTON DRAINS.

CONCRETE PIPES SOUND. AN IMPORTANT STATEMENT. An examination of concrete sewer pipes in Hamilton has revealed the fact that they are absolutely sound and well ventilated, according to an important statement made at a meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council last night. Cr. Snell reported that he had inspected the drain running across Clarence Street. It would be remembered that some years ago the question was raised of the use of concrete sewer pipes. The council was asked to open up a concrete drain which had been laid 15 or 1G years in order to ascertain its state.

Recently he had an opportunity, said Cr. Snell, of examining a pipe which had been in use for a lengthy period, and on being opened up it was found to be perfectly sound. In fact, the ventilation was so perfect that the pipe could not be distinguished from an ordinary stormwater drain. There was no smell of sewer gas.

The borough engineer (Mr R. Worley), in commenting on the matter, stated that with properly ventilated concrete sewers, there was practically no trouble from gases. In the Hamilton Borough there were samples of sewer gases which were confined to the'outlet drains of some septic'tanks. The. sewer gas. there was so virile as to completely eat away all the cement composition of pipe joints, benching, and plaster, reducing it to ordinary soft lime. A pcculir feature of the gas was that it attacked the ridge and the bed of the cement more rapidly than other parts, but where the concrete was a mxture of 1 to 7 there was absolutely no deteriorating effect. Where, however, the concrete was rich, being a mixture of 1 to 2 or 1 to 3, it was severely attacked by the gas.

The Hamilton drainage system, proceeded Mr Worley, was remarkably well ventilated and every house-vent acted as an outlet for the sewer gases. There was absolutely no accumulation of gas in the drains. Hamilton was very fortunate in that respect.