Farmers' Bulletin No. 1227
SEWAGE and
SEWERAGE
of FARM
HOMES
DISPOSAL OF FARM SEWAGE in a clean manneris always an important problem. The aimsof this bulletin are twofold—(1) to emphasize basicprinciples of sanitation; (2) to give directions forconstructing and operating home sewerage worksthat shall be simple, serviceable, and safe.
Care in operating is absolutely necessary. No installationwill run itself. Continued neglect ends infailure of even the best-designed, best-built plants.If the householder is to build and neglect, he mightas well save expense and continue the earlier practice.
| Washington, D. C. | January, 1922 Revised October, 1928 |
SEWAGE AND SEWERAGE
OF FARM HOMES
George M. Warren,
Hydraulic Engineer, Bureau of Public Roads
CONTENTS
| Page. | |
| Introduction | 3 |
| Sewage, sewers, and sewerage defined | 1 |
| Nature and quantity of sewage | 2 |
| Sewage-borne diseases and their avoidance | 2 |
| How sewage decomposes | 5 |
| Importance of air in treatment of sewage | 7 |
| Practical utilities | 8 |
| Septic tanks | 21 |
| Grease traps | 43 |
| General procedure | 45 |
INTRODUCTION
The main purpose of home sewerage works is to get rid of sewagein such way as (1) to guard against the transmission of diseasegerms through drinking water, flies, or other means; (2) to avoidcreating nuisance. What is the best method and what the best outfitare questions not to be answered offhand from afar. A treatmentthat is a success in one location may be a failure in another. Inevery instance decision should be based upon field data and fullknowledge of the local needs and condition