THE SEWERAGE QUESTION

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 191, 1 May 1914, Page 1

THE SEWERAGE QUESTION

About Septic Tanks

Can Soap Suds be Treated ?

At Mr Patterson's meeting on Monday evening that candidate for the Mayoralty mado the statement that tho septic tank scheme was quite useless because soap-suds could not be treated in it. Mr Patterson gave "medical evidence " as his authority for the statement. The Mayor (Mr Lawrie) referred to this question at his meeting on Tuesday night. Quoting the borough engineer (Mr Lockie Gannon, C.E.) it was stated that it was the common practice to put soap suds into public septic tanks, the volume of water there making it quite practical to deal with the suds. Communication was made with various Town Clerks about the matter and asking if their septic tanks treated soap suds. Following were some of the replies : Woodville : Treatment works take soap suds, etc., and are giving every satisfaction.

Denniston: Yes, satisfactorily. Otahuhu. Soaps suds are put through our septic tanks and it works satisfactorily. Mr Lockie Gannon, replying to the Mayor, said : ■' I don't know of any modem septic tank or troatment works that does not take all soap suds." THROUGH PBIVATj) PEOPEETY.

Another question raised by Mr Patterson was that compensation would have to be paid if the sewers were taken through private property. In answer to a query by the Mayor, Mr Gannon wrote: In reply to your enquiry re sewers being laid in private property. I have to report that scarcely a drainage scheme during the past twentyyears in Auckland has been carried out without sewer routes being in private property. In the £20,000 drainage scheme that I have just completed for the One Tree Hill Road Board nearly one half of the total length of sewers are laid on private property. Ai:y damage done in cutting up paths, gardens, etc., was made good again at the Board's expense. This was found to bo much more economical than cutting up roads. The Epsom Road Board have just commenced a £50,000 drainage scheme and about one-half of these sewers are to be laid through private property. There are many advantages in laying sewers through private property. The roads are undisturbed, private house connections are shortened through sewers being more convenient to the back yaids, and the depth and cost of sewer is reduced. The following is 6ome of the Auckland local bodies that haye a large percentage of sewers running through private property :—Auckland City Council, Auckland Drainage Board, Newmarket Borough Council, Grey Lynn Borough Council, Remuera Road Board, Devonport Borough Council, One Tree Road Board, Epsom Road Board. Total approximate cost of above work is £BOO,OOO. It should be understood that in a borough the authorities have the power to run sewers through private properties Through the operations of The One Treo Hill druinnge scheme in not a single instance was there a claim for condensation."