UTILIZATION OF SEWAGE. 33 



METHODS OF DISPOSAL. 



A brief description of all the many and varied methods for 

 disposing of sewage, would occupy more time than is allotted 

 to this paper. I shall only refer to a few of the most impor- 

 tant, giving examples of each and the results : — 



Doio7iivard Intermittent Filtration, Kendal, England. 



The population is about 14,000. There are 450 water- 

 closets connected with the sewers, which discharge 868,000 

 gallons per day. A reservoir of deposit was first con- 

 structed, which overflowed on a farm of about fifteen acres, 

 with the object of utilization l)y agriculture. The area ot 

 the farm proved insufficient to epurate the sew^age com- 

 pletely, and five acres of filter beds were added. These, 

 with the farm, suflice to purify the water. In 1875 the 

 products of one-third of the farm, consisting of cabbages, 

 beets, celery and rhubarb, sold for $500. Oats and rye on 

 another third, $375, and on the remaining five acres $225 

 worth of hay was raised, making a total of $1,100 worth of 

 produce from fifteen acres. The application of the sewage 

 cost $550. 



The operation of the same system, constructed by J. 

 Bailey Denton, at Abington, Great Malvern and Halstead, 

 England, and at Forfar, Scotland, has proved satisfactory, 

 inasmuch as sufficient matter is eliminated to allow the efflu- 

 ent discharge into neighboring rivers, although it contains a 

 large amount of putrescible matter, as indicated by analyses. 

 It just escapes the ban of the Pollution Act. 



Upward Filtration at BirmingJiam, England. 



Population about 350,000. Eight thousand water-closets 

 are connected with the sewers, Avhich discharge al)out 

 14,000,000 gallons per day in the river Tame. An injunc- 

 tion was obtained to prevent the discharge in the river, 

 unless the se\vage was first purified. A reservoir of deposit 

 was built, and a system of upward filtration, but complaint 

 of the continued pollution of the river necessitated its 

 abandonment. The city then attempted irrigation and agri- 

 culture, but this was also enjoined. Finally, after much 



