GREY LYNN SEWAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 32, 7 February 1905, Page 3

GREY LYNN SEWAGE.

SEPTIC TREATMENT ADVOCATED.- -5 The Grey Lynn Borough Council met last night specially to consider the report ot' the Engineer upon the treatment of the sewage by the septic system. There were pi-esent: Mr J. Farrell (Mayor), Councillors A. Donald. \V. Dirnery. J. Currie, A. <'reamer, O. Baildon. S. Thomas. W. JV. Dumper. C. McMaster. also Dr. Frengiey. District Health Officer, and Mr H. Mnnro Wilson, engineer. The Mayor, in opening the business, said he had invited the Health Officer to be present. Referring to the sewage question, the Mayor said one great advantage or having a septic system of treadng sewage would he to enable water closets to he installed in rhe Borough, and thus d» away with rhe present noxious system of nightsoil. The Town Clerk then rend the report of the Engineer. which recommended, the ciMistrnction of a septic tan!; at Cos's Creek sewer Jsft wide, lift deep, and lliOft long, which would he capable of treating 130.000 gallons of sewage in 2-fc hours, and .-mother at Edgar's creek, 18ft wide. Bft deep, and oOft loug. capable of treating -to.Ooo gallons in 24 honrs. That would be ample for a population increased! by MX) upon the present number in Gre»" Lynn, aud capable of duplication when required. The plans provided for the sil". and also a grir chamber. The outlet for the effluent into the sea is to be 4ft 6!rt below water level. The report stated na filter beds were provided for in the plans., being unnecessary where the effluent could be discharged into tbe sea. The report pointed out that it wonld be necessary. If the scheme was adopted, to acquire certain land. The estimated cost of extension, of sewer and construction of the tanks was as follows:—Cox's creek extension. £1860, - tank £1360; Edgar's creek £520* Total. £3740. The Mayor said the report showed the* plan had been prepared pretty fully. The" first tiring was to be sure that the septio treatment of sewage was satisfactory. Phc* haps the Health Officer would give M 4 views upon the matter. Dr. Frengiey said the first thing- to be* considered, was the need for such, a tMng> The great urgent need of Grey Lynn and other districts was a better system ott dealing with nigiit soil. He conld stop tire! contractor to-morrow, but then he oooltl not get the Council another depot. To> carry the material away by water wwnlcl mean introducing the pan system, Bnd entail great expense. The se-wer In GreyLynn was. he understood, laid down so» as to provide for tho installation of i-iosets. which was the proper system, as the closets being Unshed, absolutely helped; to beep the sewers clean. The pan system would cost a good deal, and tafee a-s Ion? to instal as would be required to construct tin* septic tanks. As to the septic system of treating sewage, he strongly advocated Ita adoption. The great question in the septM treaitxnent was proper disposal of the effluent from the aerobic treatment. Ai

Hamilton it was rim into tfie river, where there was enough water to prooeriy dilate it. H>re at Grey Lynn they Ixad tie- sea. a mnch larger body of water, so that tber filter beds for effluent were not required* The argument was nsed, why not ran tire sewage itself into the sea? The answ»e*r was that without septic treatment first, sewage silted up the harbour, and alsa polluted the foresn-ore. To make a septte tank work really well, night soil was wanted. He knew no reason, therefore, why even the ni-.,dit soil carts should not be emptied, under proper arrangements, into the tank until water closets were Installed throughout the district. He could! tell them that it would never do to construct a filter bed at Cox's Creek, as It would stink the people out. It was far better to carry the sewage, after the septic treatment, ont to deep water, because then there would be no silt aad no nuisance.

The Cormc'l then went into committee to discuss the details with the Engineer and the Health Officer.

Finally it was decided to subtrrit the report and plans to Dr. Mason, Chief llenrth Officer.