CASEIN FACTORY DRAINAGE

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 487, 5 December 1919, Page 2

CASEIN FACTORY DRAINAGE

(Staff Reporter)

For some time past, the Papakura Town Board has been bombarded with complaints with reference to the smell caused by the drainage from the Casein factory, which runs into a creek, and whioh passes under the Great South road near Mr E. Cole's property. The smell had been reported as intolerable, and in spite of actions by the Board, and Health Inspector, the nuisance remains unremedied.

At Monday's meeting of the Town Board, the matter was again under consideration.

The superintendent of the New Zealand Dairy Association, Mr W. Y. Kirkman, wrote in regard to the matter, and stated that the Association agreed to provide a suitable grease trap, and settling tank, which would collect all solid matter, and were arranging to have the work done at an early date. Mr Stirling had already put a man on the work of cleaning the open drain. Instructions were also given to prevent any whey being discharged into the drain. When the system was amended in accordance with the foregoing, he did not think there would be any cause for complaint. The sanitary inspector, Mr A L. Cooper, reported on the matter as under:

" On Thursday the 27th November, I inspected the Casein Factory and the stream which runs past Mr Cole's residence. At the stream the smell is bad but the water appears to be perfectly clear. AH vegetation which is in the creek has a thick coating of whey on it and the smell is evidently caused by the purification of the whey which had been hanging there since the factory manager was allowing all the whey to go down the stream. The men clearing the stream had almost reached a place opposite Mr Cole's house and he stated that the place where the smell was worst was where the stream had been obstruc ted by a clump of willows near Cole's Crescent. At the factory I was informed that they had not yet been able to instal a settling tank but one was coming. It has been built in three compartments and has strainers of different meshes. In the factory every effort is being made to keep from letting anything of a noxious nature drain into the stream.

On Saturday, 29th November, owing to further complaints about the creek the manager of the Casein factory was directed to throw lime on the cleanings from the stream that had been thrown on the banks." The chairman stated that the District Health Officer, Dr Monk had inspected the place, and had ordered certain improvements, but so far these had not been complied with, although the factory authorities had promised to have them done at an early date. He had received complaints of bad smells from the portion of the creek already cleaned, aud at his instructions lime was sprinkled on the cleanings from the stream. Even then complaints were forthcoming, and he interviewed the factory manager, and suggested the erection of a sort of a catchment box, at the mouth of the factory drain, for the purpose of catching the solids. This the manager promised to have done at once. Mr Mcintosh said that when the matter first cropped up, some time ago, the factory people promised to do something, but so far had done nothing. This would always be the case. The Board had given them a chance and they had never adhered to their promise. He thought • the whole matter should be left entirely in the hands of the Health Department.

The chairman differed. If a nuisance existed, and one did, the Board was perfectly justified in taking steps to have it remedied in the interests of public health. The Board wanted to keep in touch with the matter until it was put right. Dr Monk, who had visited the place, wished the Board to act with him in the matter. It was pointed out that lumps of curd, and quantities of whey, went down the creek. Dr Monk had stated that it would have to be thoroughly sanitary before he would pass it. It was also indicated that the Health Department would close the factory, unless the matter was expeditiously remedied Dr Brookfield's action was approved of.