63 



REPORT 1870. 



The following is an analysis of an average sample of the sewage as flow- 

 ing from the town : — 



The Board of Health at first resorted to temporary means of disposing of 

 the sewage by pumping it on to lands adjacent to the outfall, but eventually 

 prolonged their outfall sewer to a farm in the parish of Hornchurch, named 

 " Breton's," containing ] 21 acres, which they purchased for the purification 

 and utilization of the sewage by irrigation. 



This farm is situated at a distance of two miles from the town, and 

 the sewage flows to the lower portion of the farm by gravitation. At 

 the farm the Board have constructed a tank, into which the sewage is dis- 

 charged by the main sewer. They have also erected two steam-engines of 

 eight horse-power, by which the sewage is pumped up to a height of about 

 25 feet into iron troughs supported on wooden tressels, which convey the 

 sewage to all parts of the farm, by discharging it either directly into 

 gutters or grips formed on the ridges of the " lands," and out of which the 

 sewage is distributed right and left down the slightly inclined slopes of 

 the " lands," or, in the fii'st instance, into concrete " carriers," raised by 

 earth banks to a height intermediate between the height of the iron troughs 

 and the level of the ground. 



The whole farm has been systematically laid out by the tenant in 30-feet 

 " lands " or " beds," the carriers being placed so as to take advantage of the 

 natural fall in the ground. 



The soil of the farm is very light and sandy, containing many stones ; and 

 gravel, which forms the subsoil, is found at a depth of from 8 to 20 inches. 

 The gravel is ordinary yeUow flint-gravel, but it is interspersed with 

 patches of yellow and white sand, and even contains in places a slight ad- 

 mixture of clay. An analysis of the soO. is subjoined (see p. 70). 



About 85 acres of the farm, which are above the level of the tank, have 

 been underdrained by pipe-drains 50 yards apart, and from 5 to 6 feet in 

 depth, in such a manner that the water from the drains can be discharged 

 into the sewage tank if required in dry weather, or at pleasure into the river 

 Eom. There are roads communicating with difl'erent parts of the farm laid 

 out so as not to interfere with the complete distribution of the sewage by 

 the iron troughs and carriers. 



The constri;ction of the sewer and tank, and erection of the engines, 

 pumps, and iron troughs, have coast the Local Board the sum of £4300. 



The Board has let the sewage upon lease for <£600 a year, the arrange- 

 ment being that the tenant pays this sum in addition to the rent of the 

 farm for the sewage pumped vip and delivered into the troughs, from which 

 point the tenant is responsible for its proper disposal, and is bound to hold 

 the Board harmless from any actions for nuisance. 



