USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1908-1911 > Part 13
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lying just under the subsoil, or at a point which would bring it at or near the surface of the beds. If the beds were built at this location, the large stones should be removed from the gravel to a depth of at least ten inches, which would add large- ly to the cost of construction. A strip of land about 200 feet in width of very tight, close material, which would be of prac- tically no use whatever for filtration purposes, runs diagonally through the centre of the field across the location of the beds. This would make the layout of the beds very awkward.
"After spending about a month in surveys and examina- tions of this location, it was decided to investigate the loca- tion which was finally selected. This point is located about 2800 feet easterly from Pleasant Street and on the Page, Bird and Kingsbury lands. About 40 test pits were dug and the property surveyed. The result of these pits show that the quality of the material is excellent for purification purposes. The location is also remote from dwellings, and thus not likely to be objectionable on account of odor.
"Plans and specifications were prepared as rapidly as pos- sible, and contracts let for the material and construction of the work.
CONTRACTS.
"The first contract let was for cast iron pipe. This con- tract was awarded to the Warren Foundry and Machine Company. The contract for the vitrified pipe and branches was awarded to George E. Sanborn, of Norwood, the pipe furnished by him being made by the Portland Stone Ware Company, of Portland, Maine. The contract for the cement was let to the Alpha Portland Cement Company, of Easton, Pennsylvania.
CONSTRUCTION.
"The first contract let was for trenching and laying vitri- fied sewer and cast iron pipe. This was awarded to M. Mc- Donough, of Swampscott, Massachusetts. The contract for
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the construction of the filter beds was also awarded to him at a later date.
"Work on the construction of the pipe line was started on Sept. 10th, and is now practically completed. The construction of the filter beds was started a few days later and continued until the 15th of December, when the weather became so severe that it was decided to stop work for the winter months.
DESCRIPTION OF PIPE LINES.
"The section of pipe line constructed the past season is practically the main or trunk sewer for the central portion of the town. Starting at the junction of Nahatan and Wash- ington Streets, it runs through Nahatan Street and right of way through land of John E. and Charles L. Smith, and New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company, to Lenox Street, then through Lenox Street to Plimpton Avenue, then in Plimpton Avenue and right of way through land of John Everett and Joseph P. Hamlin, to Cross Street, then in right of way through land of Michael Tobin and heirs of Julia D. Everett and John Keohane, to Expensive Avenue, then in right of way through land of the Norwood Associates, Thomas Johnson and John Monahan, to Hillside Avenue, then in right of way through land of William B. Atwood and heirs of Alvin Fuller, to Willow Street, Willow Street to Pleasant, and Pleas- ant Street to land taken from Willard Dean, then through land taken from Willard Dean, Nancy Page and Francis W. Bird, to the filter beds.
"The sizes of the pipe composing the main line are as fol- lows : Beginning at the junction of Washington and Nahatan Streets and running to Central Street, 12 inches ; from Central Street to Hillside Avenue, 15 inches, and from Hillside Avenue south for a distance of 400 feet, 20 inches. At this point it joins the 16 inch cast iron siphon. The siphon continues from this point through Willow and Pleasant Streets, a total distance of about 3860 feet, to the junction of the field line through the Willard Dean property. At this point the siphon discharges
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into a 24 inch vitrified pipe and continues through the land taken from Willard Dean for a distance of 1050 feet, where it is reduced to 15 inch vitrified pipe, and continues for about 1800 feet to the filter beds, the 15 inch pipe from the 24 inch pipe to the filter beds being laid in an embankment.
CAPACITY OF MAIN LINE.
"The 15 inch main sewer through Nahatan and Lenox Streets has a capacity at its flattest grade of about 2200 gallons per minute, or 3,168,000 gallons in twenty-four hours. This sewer receives the flow from practically all the gravity section lying north of Winter Street and west of the railroad. This would provide for a maximum flow from a population of 12,- 000 people, and in addition provide for a flow of ground water of about 200 gallons per minute.
"The 15 inch intercepting sewer through Plimpton Ave- nue and the right of way to Hillside Avenue and the 20 inch from Hillside Avenue to the upper end of the siphon has a capacity at its flattest grade of 3100 gallons per minute, or 4,464,000 gallons in twenty-four hours. The intercepting sewer is laid on practically the same grade as outlined in Mr. Coffin's report of 1901, and has a capacity sufficient to discharge the maximum flow of sewage from a population of about 17,- 000 people and a ground water flow of about 500,000 gal- lons per day.
CAST IRON SIPHON.
"The only marked change in the design of the system from that outlined by Mr. Coffin is in constructing an inverted siphon from a point about 400 feet south of Hillside Avenue to the junction of the 24 inch field line leading to the filter beds.
DESCRIPTION OF SIPHON.
"The siphon is of 16 inch cast iron pipe and is 3864 feet long. The pipe is laid with from 4 1-2 to 5 feet cover, and the joints are calked with lead in the ordinary manner. The
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outlet or low end of the siphon discharges into a brick man- hole at the head of the 24 inch line. This outlet is 4.7 feet lower than the beginning or upper end, the hydraulic grade being 1.22 feet in 1000. The lowest point in the siphon is where it passes under the Neponset River. At this point the invert is 14.3 feet lower than the outlet.
"The siphon is laid on such a grade that it will drain from each end back to the river. A blow-off was placed at this point, also a cast iron hatch box or entrance chamber. The fall in the siphon is 4.7 feet, or a slope of 1.22 feet in 1000. Based on this slope the calculated capacity would be 1400 gal- lons per minute, or a little over 2,000,000 gallons in twenty- four hours. If it eventually becomes necessary to provide a greater capacity, it will be feasible to allow the siphon to work under an additional head sufficient to raise its capacity to 1900 gallons per minute, or 2,740,000 gallons in twenty-four hours.
"The advantages of the siphon over the gravity line are
‹ as follows :
"First, the pipe was laid entirely in the street, thus saving a large land damage, or a distance of 3400 feet which was re- quired for the gravity line.
"Second, the first cost of construction was about $3500 less than the gravity line. Using Mr. Coffin's figures for the future population and consumption of water in Norwood, I believe that the siphon as laid will be of ample capacity for the next twenty years, if not longer.
FILTER BEDS.
"As before stated, the filter beds are located at a point about 2800 feet easterly from Pleasant Street. The present plan provides for an area of six and one half acres divided into six beds. Each bed is 250 feet long by 190 feet wide. The sewage from the town first enters a sludge tank, and after flowing through this, enters a dosing tank, and from the dos- ing tank is discharged into 20 inch main carriers through
-
·
.
-
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two 16 inch Automatic Miller Siphons working al- ternately. The 20 inch main carriers are arranged in such manner that by opening or closing gates located in the distributing chambers the sewage can be readily turned on to any bed desired.
SLUDGE AND DOSING TANKS.
"The sludge and dosing tanks are built of concrete and when completed will be entirely covered over with earth. Man- holes are placed in the roof for entrance and ventilation, and a small brick building will be built over the siphon chamber. The sludge tank is 35 feet 9 inches long by 28 feet wide and 9 feet in depth below the flow line, and has a capacity of 67,000 gallons. The dosing tank is 94 fect 9 inches in length, 28 feet wide and 6 feet deep, with a capacity to the flow line of I20,000 gallons.
"The filter beds will be thoroughly underdrained and the effluent discharged into the Neponset River through a 20 inch vitrified pipe. The total capacity of the "six beds will be about 500,000 gallons per day, or at the rate of 75,000 gallons per acre.
FUTURE BEDS.
"There is at this location an area of suitable material for about twelve acres. When it becomes necessary to provide for more than twelve acres, another location must be used. The system is designed so that the upper part of the land bought from Nancy Page and the land belonging to Willard Dean lying between the Page property and the Neponset River can be used. The present area, or twelve acres, will in my opinion, however, provide for the domestic sewage from the town for several years.
STREET UNDERDRAINS.
"The following underdrains were constructed :
"A 6 inch pipe was laid, beginning at the outlet into the
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brook in the Everett pasture and continuing north through the right of way to Plimpton Avenue; then through Plimpton Avenue and Lenox Street to the right of way through the Smith property ; then through this right of way and under the railroad to a point distant 170 feet west of Central Street. From this point to Washington Street an 8 inch pipe was laid.
"The 8 inch underdrain will eventually form part of the main underdrain that will be constructed in that section of the gravity system lying north of Winter Street and west of Wash- ington Street. An outlet will be laid from the beginning of the 8 inch underdrain through Central Street and have a free discharge into the brook which flows parallel with Nahatan Street. Branches`are left so that underdrains in any of the side streets may be connected. The pipe is laid in the same trench with the sewer, being one foot below. The joints are left open, and the pipe surrounded with screened gravel.
"The total amount of underdrain laid this past season is 3870 feet, of which 3584 is 6 inch and 286 feet 8 inch.
"These underdrains will tend to reduce the elevation of the ground water, and will thus greatly improve the sanitary condition of the locality in which they are laid. They are also of great importance in conveying the ground water away from the sewers. This is evident in the construction of the section of sewers already built.
ROCK EXCAVATION.
"The quantity of rock excavation has run somewhat over the estimate, but this increase is due largely to the extra depth of trench required for the underdrains. The approximate esti- mate in the section of sewers already completed was 865 cubic yards. The amount actually excavated will be about 1265 yards, or 400 yards more than was estimated. Of this amount 188 yards was due to the underdrain trench.
MANHOLES.
"Brick manholes with iron covers are used. These man- holes are placed at every junction of one sewer with another,
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and at all points where there is a change in the line or grade of the sewer, and on straight lines approximately 500 feet apart. The sewers are laid on straight lines between the manholes, and all curves or bends are made in the manhole, thus giving per- fect control of the sewers for inspection, cleaning and the re- moval of obstructions. By hand mirrors light can be thrown into the sewers and obstructions located. Jointed rods can be run through from manhole to manhole and any obstruc- tion removed.
"This control of and access to the sewers is essential, for, while obstructions are of infrequent occurrence in a properly built and operated system, there is always the possibility of something finding its way into the sewers that will close them.
"It is proposed to place flushing manholes at the head of every lateral sewer. These are the ordinary brick manholes with a flap gate on the outlet to the sewer. The manhole may be connected with the water main and controlled by a small valve.
LAYING SEWER PIPE.
"As stated, the sewers are laid on straight lines from man- hole to manhole, great care being taken both in lining and grad- ing the pipe. Considerable trouble was experienced in finding suitable material in the trench to bed the pipe in, and it was finally decided to have sand either from the filter sit or from the town pit to use for this purpose. With this material it was possible to bed the pipe in a thorough manner and so as to cause no danger of settlement.
"Another important feature of the work was in the method of making the joints in trenches that were wet or where the level of the ground water is likely to stand over the pipe. On the advice of the Consulting Engineer, Mr. Harrison P. Eddy, it was decided to use sulphur and sand instead of cement. Some delay and trouble was experienced at first in making the joints, but through the assistance of
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Mr. Loring N. Farnum, City Engineer of Newton, (who has been using this method of making sewer joints for some years and who kindly offered to explain the work to us) we were able to make them with perfect success, and in a large proportion of the sewers already laid the joints are made in this manner.
"The sand and sulphur are mixed in equal parts and heat- ed. It is then run into the joints in the same manner that a cast iron water pipe joint is run with lead. The great ad- vantage of the sulphur joint over the cement joint is, first, in tightness, and, second, that as soon as the joint is run the trench can be entirely backfilled and no pumping is required. By using this method of making the joints and by constructing underdrains, the amount of ground water entering the sewer already constructed is very small. I have been unable to get a careful measurement of it, but, judging from the flow, I do not think it would exceed two or three gallons per minute, or from 3000 to 4000 gallons in twenty-four hours.
WORK DONE ON PIPE LINE.
"The total length of sewers and cast iron pipe already laid, or from the dosing tank at the filter beds to Washington Street, is 11,946 feet. The length and various sizes are as follows :
12 inch vitrified pipe,
447 feet. 6,191
15 "
20
402
24
1,042
16 cast iron pipe in siphon, 3,864
Total, 11,946 feet.
"The difference in elevation between the invert of the sewer at the junction of Washington Street to the entrance into the dosing tank is 74 feet, or between the sewer at Washington Street and the filter beds is 79 feet.
"This portion of the system is ready for use and house services as soon as the filter beds are completed.
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FILTER BEDS.
"The filter beds are about three quarters completed. The work remaining to be done consists in laying the underdrains, grading beds, building embankments, building the house over the siphon chamber and dressing up slope, loaming banks, etc. This should take not over six weeks at the longest. I am of the opinion that by July Ist the beds will be ready for use.
"I believe the contractor has done his work thoroughly throughout, a belief that is apparently justified by the results.
"In closing I wish to recognize the efficient services of Mr. Harrison P. Eddy, the Consulting Engineer, who has given me much valuable advice throughout the work, Mr. William F. Hunt, as Resident Engineer, and the assistants and inspectors connected with the construction.
"I wish to extend to you my hearty thanks for the gener- ous support and kind treatment the Board has accorded to myself and the other members of the engineering force."
Yours respectfully,
LEWIS D. THORPE.
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REPORT OF CONSULTING ENGINEER-HARRISON P. EDDY.
Messrs. M. M. Alden, C. B. Sanborn, P. J. Lydon,
Sewer Commissioners, of the Town of Norwood.
February 8, 1908.
Gentlemen :-
At the request of your engineer, Mr. Lewis D. Thorpe, of Boston, I present the following report upon the work done on the sewerage system in the town of Norwood during the last year.
In the month of May, 1907, I reviewed the plans which had been prepared by the late Freeman C. Coffin, and modified by Mr. Thorpe, and presented to you a report dated May 10, 1907, upon the Sewer System as thus designed.
As soon as you notified Mr. Thorpe of his appointment to serve as your engineer, he requested me to act with him in an advisory capacity, and from that date we have held frequent conferences with regard to various features of the work. I have also made several trips to Norwood, and have examined the work being done both upon the sewers and upon the disposal plant.
The system of sewers upon which construction has been begun is that known technically as the separate system, mean- ing a system of pipes for the conveying of sewage exclusive of surface water, roof water and ground water, so far as possible, and implies that there is in existence or will be at some future time, a second line of pipes, conduits or ditches for the re- moval of surface water.
The plan prepared by Mr. Coffin provided for an inter- cepting sewer laid from a point about 700 ft. north of Dean
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St., to a point near Pleasant St. below the ink works. This pipe line was to pass through private land and was to be con- structed in embankment and upon piers. A careful study of this feature of the system was made and it was finally de- cided to substitute for the intercepter laid in this way, an inverted syphon almost wholly within the public streets. This syphon is 16 inches in diameter, and about 3900 feet in length and is constructed of cast iron pipe. The outlet of the syphon is 4.7' lower than the upper end. The lowest point in the syphon is 14.3' lower than the outlet.
Inverted syphons have been in use for conveying sewage for many years and have been entirely successful. This syphon is, therefore, not an experiment and no fear need be enter- tained of its failure to operate with perfect satisfaction. If through any accident the syphon should become clogged, pro- vision has been made for drawing off the sewage at the low point, and a manhole has been constructed so that inspec- tion will be rendered comparatively easy. The capacity of the syphon is sufficient for present and future needs of the town for many years to come. Nearly two miles of sewer have been constructed. Most of the pipe has been laid in very wet ground and underdrains have been provided most of the way. While it has not been possible to test the entire length of the sewer to determine the amount of leakage, the indications are that the amount of ground water entering the pipe is very small. Early in the year the contractor was directed to pour the joints with a molten mixture of sulphur and sand with the hope of securing as nearly water-tight work as is possible. While throughout a large proportion of the length of the sewer the underdrain reduces the elevation of the ground water so that it has not been possible to determine whether or not the joints made in this way have leaked, yet a careful inspection of a number of joints located several feet below the elevation of the ground water, where no underdrain has been provided, indicates that they are practically free from leakage.
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"It is believed that joints made in this way are as nearly perfect as it is possible to make them. Joints made with cement and sand, if great care is used, have been found to be in many cases practically water-tight. To secure water-tight work however, it requires the utmost care on the part of the men making the joints, and a corresponding vigilance on the part of the inspector. According to the prices bid for this work, the sulphur joints cost slightly more than the cement joints but this amount is however, a comparatively small pro- portion of the entire cost of the sewer, and taking into account the uncertainties of the cement joint and the necessity of pro- viding water-tight work, it was felt that the additional expense was amply justified.
One of the most important duties devolving upon your engineer was the examination of the available sites for filter beds. The first studies undertaken were upon the tract of land owned by Willard Dean. A large number of test pits were dug, and a careful examination made of the quality of the material, and of the depth of soil overlying the sand and gravel. Material below the sub-soil was found to be a gravel, consisting of a great variety of sizes. The upper stratum of grav- el perhaps ten inches deep on the average, contained a very large proportion of small boulders, ranging from four to ten inches in diameter. These were placed so closely together at some points as to resemble an artificial pavement, and it was believed that in order to prepare suitable filters, it would be necessary to remove these stones, which would involve considerable expense. It was also found that there were numerous pockets of hardpan which were practically impervious to water. One large pocket of this material extended diagonally across the proposed location of the filters and seriously interfered with the proper arrangement of the filters and distributing pipes. The surface of this tract of land is comparatively level and extends from Pleasant St. in a easterly direction for a considerable distance along the Neponset River. Its proximity to the high-
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way is an objection to its use for the filtration of sewage. There will unavoidably be more or less disagreeable oder from filter beds, and this may, under certain conditions, extend to a con- siderable distance from the filters. This feature was an im- portant consideration in the final decision upon the site to be used.
In view of the objections to the Dean site on account of its close proximity to the highway and on account of the char- acter of the filtering material and the quantity and location of the material which was not adapted to filtration, it was deemed wise to investigate another tract of land more favorably situ- ated with regard to the possibility of any annoyance due to unpleasant odors. This tract of land was a part of the Page, Bird and Kingsbury estates, and lies more than half a mile away from the highway. A large number of test pits were dug, and it was found that the sand underlying the soil and sub-soil was of very good quality for filtration purposes. The location is so far from the highway that there is little possibil- ity of any unpleasant odors being a source of annoyance. It was accordingly decided to secure this tract of land and to de- velop it for the present needs of the town. The Dean proper- ty, although not as desirable from several points of view, can be used if necessary for additional filter beds. By this course the town is enabled to locate its filters where they cannot possibly cause any annoyance, and it still will have available the upper tract of land in case the quantity of sewage should at some future time be greatly increased, so that the filters which can be built on the land now owned by the town are unable to do the entire amount of work. A large number of samples of sand from the filter bed site have been submitted to mechanical analysis and the results are indicated in the following table :
No. I Coefficient of Uniformity 14.19 Effective Size, 0.31 mm
"
2 3
5.48
0.3I "
"
14.17
0.36
33
. No.
4 Coefficient of Uniformity 10.55 Effective Size 0.54 mm
"
"
14.55
"
0.57
6
"
17.88
0.52
„
7
"
2.24
0.2I
"
8
"
2.94
0.3I
9
6.85
0.35
IO
3.45
0.22
II
2.46
0.24
I2
7.34
0.30
"
5
From these analyses, and a number of others which are not here recorded, it appears that the filtering material is admir- ably adapted to the purification of sewage.
As described in the report of your engineer, a settling basin and dosing tank have been constructed. The sewage will pass through the settling basin, in which the solid matter will be to a large extent, removed by sedimentation. The clarified sewage will pass from the settling basin to the dosing tank, in which it will be allowed to accumulate until it has reached a definite quantity, when it will be automatically discharged on to the filter beds. This arrangement permits of the dosing of the filter beds quickly so that in cold weather the full bene- fit of the comparatively warm sewage will be realized. This feature will also assist in the thorough distribution of the sewage over the surface of the filters.
Provision has been made for drawing the deposit from the settling basin on to the sludge bed constructed for that parti- cular purpose. This will be done only at comparatively rare intervals, and should be done at times when weather condi- tions are favorable for quickly drying the sludge. The filter beds are of the ordinary type known as intermittent sand filters. The function of these filters is to furnish a home for the bac- teria which act upon the organic matter of the sewage and transform it into inorganic substances. This process changes the substances in the sewage matter which are liable to de- composition into materials which do not putrify and become
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