INTRODUCTORY. THE question of Sewage Utilization, together with that of the drainage of towns and the purification of our rivers and water-courses, has been for some years past forcing itself upon public attention. Numerous Reports have been presented to Parliament, all setting forth the magnitude of the evils of the present system, and representing the urgency of immediate reform. As far back as the year 1858, a Commission [S. U. C., 1857], of which Lord Essex was Chairman, reported to this effect, and as yet little or nothing has been done. There is no doubt that what has chiefly deterred Local Boards, or other governing bodies in towns from taking any action in the matter, has been the difficulty of finding out the most satisfactory mode of practically dealing with what everyone admits to be a gigantic difficulty. Most of the systems of Sewage Utilization hitherto adopted in many of our towns have proved unremunerative as speculations ; the success of others has been supposed to depend upon certain special conditions, unattainable in other places; and some are known to have failed to accomplish the most important part of their programme, namely, that of dealing with the sewage matter in such a way as to render it perfectly innocuous, both during and after treatment. On the whole, however, the most extraordinary ignorance prevails on the subject. Many towns would gladly establish works which would purify and utilize their sewage, even were the operations carried on at a slight loss; but they are unwilling to undertake works of whose nature they know nothing, which may involve them in considerable and unknown expenses, raise their rates, and possibly in the end fail to bring about the result they desire. Even many well-educated engineers know but little of the comparative merits of the various systems that have been already tried, and consequently of the peculiar fitness or unfitness of any particular system for the town or district in which they may be interested; they consequently hesitate to give any decided opinion or advice upon the subject. Local Boards are naturally unwilling to act without seeing exactly "where they are going," and in the end nothing is done. We hope that between Mr. Stansfeld and Sir Charles Adderley something may be done during this session of Parliament which may render it easier for local authorities to take action in this matter, while at the same time their responsibilities as well as their privileges are enlarged. As it is, according to the Report of the British Association published in 1870, there is "only one town in England (Carlisle) "which experienced no difficulty, present or prospective," in the treatment of its sewage! An impartial review and comparison, therefore, of the various systems that have been tried in England and on the Continent for some years past may, it is hoped, be of use, not only in directing attention to the subject, but in enabling those who are interested in it, by considering the causes of the success or failure of the various systems under different circumstances, to determine what system or what modification of any previous system may be best fitted for the requirements and capabilities of their district. In recording the good or evil fortune of the various experiments that have been tried, this little book lays claim to no greater merits than that of a compilation, and as such it is hoped it may be found a useful one. A great portion of the information contained in it has been collected from the Reports presented to Parlia ment by various Commissions since the year 1858, and the sources of information will be found in all cases indicated for purposes of reference, and especially for the assistance of those who desire to study any particular branch of the subject more fully than in a general abstract like the present. To a certain extent, therefore, this handbook will be found to be an epitome of most of what has already been written upon the subject, and as such will, it is hoped, be appreciated by those whose time is of value, and who desire to have an opportunity of judging of the relative merits of the different systems in a small compass. I took up the subject without any prejudices or preconceived notions. I have no theory to support, no set system to advocate, and whatever may be the shortcomings of the work, and I know how many they are, I can at least lay claim to having been animated throughout with a spirit of perfect impartiality, which will, I trust, be evident in the composition of the following pages, and may recommend them to the mercy of the professional critics. 1, KING'S BENCH WALK, TEMPLE, February, 1872. |