I 10 



Labourers' Cottages. 



[may, 



Drainage. — In some districts it is not usual to provide 

 sinks, and slops and other refuse are deposited direct on to 

 the garden ; but where sinks are provided or water-closets 

 are adopted, in districts which are so sparsely populated 

 that the provision of a suitable drainage system becomes 

 impracticable, cesspools are permissible. They are liable, 

 however, to become a source of nuisance and danger to 

 health, and should be constructed at a distance of at least 

 50 ft. from a dwelling-house, and, with a view to the pre- 

 vention of risk of water pollution, at a distance of at least 

 60 or 80 ft. from any well, spring, or stream of water used 

 for drinking purposes. They should be constructed of good 

 brickwork in cement, rendered in cement 1 in. thick, and have 

 a dished concrete bottom also rendered in cement, with a back- 

 ing of 9 in. or 12 in. of well-puddled clay ; they should be 

 domed over in cement, and finished with a hard stone cover 

 with a ring let in, or an iron air-tight manhole cover. The 

 drainage to cesspools should be similar in all respects to 

 drains connected to a regular sewer : the pipes should be 

 jointed in cement, inspection-chambers should be provided 

 at all turning-points or junctions, and an interceptor and a 

 ventilating inlet and outlet to each. The chief objection to 

 cesspools is that many of them are not water-tight, and the 

 contents escaping and permeating the surrounding soil often 

 contaminate the sources of water-supply : hence the necessity 

 for careful construction. Rain-water, if not required, as well 

 as surface water, should not be conveyed to the cesspools, buf. 

 taken away clear of the foundations, and either allowed to 

 soak away or to be discharged into a ditch or watercourse. 



Where earth-closets with a fixed receptacle are provided, 

 they should be constructed at least 10 ft. from the dwelling- 

 houses in such a manner and in such a position as to admit 

 of the frequent and effectual application of a sufficient 

 quantity of dry earth or ashes, and in such a position as will 

 admit of ready access for the removal of contents. In any 

 case, the contents should not be allowed to remain undis- 

 turbed for a period exceeding three months. The receptacle 

 should be formed of impervious material, the floor being 

 raised about 3 in. above the level of the surrounding ground, 

 so that the contents may not at any time be exposed to any 



