USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1913 > Part 11
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We wish to call special attention to the accom- panying schedule showing the kind, length and size of pipe in the entire system. This has been compiled gratuitously by Engineer J. J. Van Valkenburgh, and shows in every detail just what our system con- sists of. We are exceedingly grateful to Engineer Van Valkenburgh, and feel confident that our towns- people who carefully peruse this schedule will ap- preciate the vast amount of work required to give us this consolidated data of our completed system.
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ANNUAL REPORT
A summary of the expenses of the Department for the past year, and the estimated expenses for the coming year will be found on the following pages; also a statement of the total cost of the Sewer System proper.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES S. HOLDEN. HUGH A. SMITH, HERBERT MacKINNON, Board of Sewer Commissioners.
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ANNUAL REPORT
CASH REPORT OF SEWER COMMISSIONERS
December 31, 1913
Dr.
House connections made, Jan. to
June
$5,899.54
Application Deposits 320.00
Pipe and Fittings
189.84
Interest on Bank Deposit
22.08
$6,431.46
Cr.
Cash paid Town Treasurer $6,270.25
Abatements 73.62
Uncollected bill, December 31, 1913
87.59
$6,431.46
CHARLES S. HOLDEN, H. A. SMITH, H. MacKINNON, Board of Sewer Commissioners.
Examined January 14, 1914, and found correct: B. F. LINDSEY, W. L. ELLIOT, FRED L. MORSE,
Auditors.
Financial Statement
CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT
Receipts
Balance on hand Jan. 1,
1913 ... .. $32,534.53
Sale of Bonds .. 50,000.00
Construction work 6,270.25
$88,804.78
Disbursements
Contract work
$42,144.19
Main extensions
235.21
Land damages
1,537.00
Connections
1,235.27
Ray roll
3,216.38
Tools 276.35
Incidentals 121.78 .
Deposits refun 320.00
Filter field
635.07
Unexpended ba
la
39,083.53
$88,804.78
Financial Statement MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT
Receipts Appropriation from Town $6,250.00
$6,250.00
Disbursements
Pay roll $1,627.17
Salaries 1,786.50
Office and supplies. 1,015.05
Barn and team 273.63
Incidentals 1,120.70
Sewer system 190.94
Filter field 53.87
Unexpended balance
182.14
$6,250.00
Examined January 14, 1914, and found correct:
B. F. LINDSEY, W. L. ELLIOT, FRED L. MORSE,
Auditors.
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ANNUAL REPORT
IN EXPLANATION OF DISBURSEMENTS
Maintenance Account
Pay Roll
Supt., Engineers, Book-
keeper, Jan. to June. $1,627.17
Salaries
Superintendent, July to
Jan., 1914
$450.00
Inspector 451.50
Caretaker at fields 360.00
Bookkeeper
225.00
Commissioners
300.00
$1,786.50
Office and Supplies
Rent 218.00
Furniture 94.30
Safe
175.00
Filing cabinet and cards ... 105.65
Typewriter 81.00
Drafting material
200.95
Books and stationery
71.90
Printing
54.63
Miscellaneous
13.62
$1,015.05
Barn and Teams
Rent of barn, May to Jan ... 100.00
Team hire 62.65
Carting
62.48
Bicycle
35.00
Blacksmithing
13.50
$273.63
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ANNUAL REPORT
Incidentals
Liability insurance
$584.00
Plans and report on assess-
ing 170.00
Services of attorney
62.65
Assistance on assessment
work
70.25
Issuing bonds
112.50
Taxes on filter land
21.88
Engineer
38.75
Miscellaneous
60.67
$1,120.70
Sewer System
General work on pipe line. . $190.94
Filter Fields
Tools and apparatus for
house
$53.87
Total maintenance bills ...
$6,067.86
IN EXPLANATION OF DISBURSEMENTS Construction Account
Contract
C. E. Trumbell Co. $30,980.99
J. J. Van Valkenburgh 4,087.78
Bruno & Petitte 4,406.91
Attleboro Coal Co. 1,625.04
Sessions Iron Foundry 273.71
Freight & Expressing 108.72
Water Department 140.72
Waldo Brothers 95.14
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ANNUAL REPORT
Rent of Yard 300.00
Ludlow Valve Co.
75.80
Miscellaneous
49.38
Land Damages
$42,144.19 $1,537.00
Connections
Attleboro Coal Co. for Pipe $751.11
E. O. Dexter for Cement ... 166.10
M. F. Ashley, Lumber 107.82
Repairing Sidewalks
34.00
Claude Bowen. Labor
45.21
Frank Davis, Labor
26.97
N. Perry. Material
51.10
Freight & Express
39.05
Miscellaneous
88.99
Tools
276.35
Rubber Boots
47.60
Pay Roll
3,216.38
$4,849.78
Extensions
Two short Main Lines $235.21
Deposits Refunded
Payments on Connections not made $320.00
Filter Fields
House and Well $635.07
Total Construction Bills $49,721.24
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ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
December 31, 1913.
To the Board of Sewer Commissioners:
I respectfully submit a brief record of the work of the Sewer Department since my election June 10, 1913.
Service connections and sewage disposal have composed the greater part of the work for the year. Previous to June 10, 1913, 156 services had been laid. Since then 362 services have been added, making a total of 518 to date.
The services have been inspected and a record kept of their locations, which should prove of value in the future, in case of stoppage, repairs or exten- sion.
From the time that the first services were laid, up to the time that the filter beds were first used, the sewage was disposed of in Ten Mile River, a little way below the Dodgeville Mills.
The filter beds were first put into actual service on August 1, 1913, the sewage arriving at 2.35 P. M. At 3.30 P. M., the first gate was opened on bed No. 29 by Dr. C. S. Holden, Chairman of the Board of Sewer Commisssioners in the presence of Hugh A. Smith and Herbert A. Mackinnon, the other two members of the Board, Engineer J. J. Van Valkenburgh, George M. Worrall, a member of the former Sewer Committee, Henry Atwell the caretaker, and the Superintendent. Beds 25, 26, 27, and 30 have been put into use since the flow has increased.
When the Reed farm was first considered as a site for the filtration area for the Attleboro Sewer- age System, test pits were dug to determine the na- ture of the soil. Mr. X. H. Goodnough, Chief En- gineer of the State Board of Health, who conducted
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ANNUAL REPORT
the examination, pronounced at that time that the soil was the best in the State of Massachusetts for filtering purposes. So far, the beds have proven to be as predicted. for they have easily taken care of the sewage without a trace of effluent discharge. Moreover, they have been easily operated and cared for by the services of one man .
The quality and quality of the sewage received at the filter beds prove conclusively that the system is extremely tight, almost free from infiltration, a trouble common to many other systems. The strength of the sewage causes a considerable amount of deposit on the surface of the beds, which is clear- ed off when necessary and has thus far been carted away by the residents of that locality for land ferti- lizer.
In order to prove the efficiency of the system, a weir was placed in the 30-inch concrete sewer at one of the manholes just above the filter. The measure- ments were taken at intervals of two hours during the day from August 27 to September 10, at which time there were about 360 conections or about 475 buildings connected with the sewers. The average flow during this time was only 172,627 gallons per day.
The grounds around the tool house have been cleared and laid out and present a very neat and attractive appearance. The well which was driven near the house has thus far afforded a plentiful sup- ply of excellent water.
The tools owned by the Department, with the exception of those needed at the filter beds have been kept in the Department tool boxes at the Water Department Yard.
The Department has a considerable amount of pipe on hand which will be used in the future exten- sion work.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Up to date the system has worked very nicely and is in excellent condition, no stoppages having occurred, and but little flushing being necessary.
Respectfully submitted,
H. F. CONANT, Superintendent
REPORT OF THE ENGINEER.
To the Board of Sewer Commissioners:
At the close of work on the Sewerage System for the year 1912, C. E. Trumbell Company, Con- tractors on the fifth and last section of sewer con- struction, had under their contract with the Town about three miles of eight, ten, and twelve inch sew- ers to lay.
Constructon work was resumed on March 17, 1913, with four gangs of men and steadily carried on until about the first of July when the contract was completed.
During the early spring the Town began making connections with the street sewers. At the present time the 518 connections which have been made connect 617 houses, 28 blocks, 12 factories, and 9 public buildings, making in all 666 buildings. At first the amount of sewage was so small that it was allowed to discharge into the river below the Dodge- ville Mills, but on Monday, August 11, when the flowage had increased to a reasonable amount, the river gate was closed and the sewage diverted to the filtration field. At 3.20 o'clock in the afternoon of that day Dr. C. S. Holden, chairman of the Board of Commissioners, opened the final gate and sewage flowed upon Filter Bed No. 29. Since then the sew-
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ANNUAL REPORT
age has continued to discharge at the field.
Frequent criticisms have been made regarding the "small size" of many of the sewers. This seem- ed rather curious for on inquiry it was ascertained that most of those inclined to be critical did not know the grade of the sewers in question; did not know their length and the number of houses to be connected therewith, nor the probable amount of sewage they would be called upon to discharge. At that time it would of course have been useless to attempt to enlighten those possessed of such posi- tive knowledge of the factors which necessarily de- termine the size of the sewer to be adopted. An op- portunity has at last arrived, however, which ren- ders it possible to convince the most skeptical and in a practical way that the carrying capacity of a so- called small sewer is really quite considerable.
The Town has now about 30.2 miles of sewers in sizes from a six-inch to a thirty-inch, and up-to- date, as has been stated, 666 buildings are connect- ed with the new system. Many miles of the sewers are below the ground water level; in fact, at Thach- er Street the sewer is seven feet below the surface of the river and along the Dodgeville dam it is ten feet below the surface. Naturally when thousands of sewer pipe joints are made in wet trenches, how- ever carefully the work may be done, the possibili- ties of leakage are very great. In a manhole on the 30-inch sewer at the filtration field a weir 15 inches long has been built. The total amount of sewage from the said 666 buildings and the infiltration of the 30.2 miles of sewers must pass over this weir. During January 21 and 22, 1914, the depths of sew- age flowing over the weir were as follows:
At 8 o'clock A. M. 0.20 of a foot At 10 o'clock A. M. 0.24 of a foot At 2 o'clock P. M. 0.26 of a foot
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ANNUAL REPORT
. At 3 o'clock P. M. 0.26 of a foot At 5 o'clock P. M. 0.27 of a foot
An average of these readings from morning to night gives 0.25 of a foot. This means that at 8 o'clock the area of the volume passing over the weir was 36 square inches, and that at 5 o'clock when the greatest flow occurred the volume was 48.6 square inches in area. An 8-inch pipe has an area of 50.26 square inches.
The sewage when flowing over the weir at the above mentioned average depth has a rate per 24 hours of about 324,000 gallons. This amount would be much smaller were the night rates included. An 8-inch pipe laid at the lightest of its several grades in town would discharge in 24 hours the average amount of sewage given above. This is doing very well for a "small size" sewer.
The system of sewers will work best when all the houses on the lines are connected with it. Even then it will require constant inspection and occa- sional flushing. It is surprising to see the great number of articles foreign to sewage that people carelessly let fall or deliberately crowd into a sewer. Since a dam is frequently formed in the sewer by this foreign matter which the Town must at times remove and at its own expense the Rules and Regu- lations of the Sewer Department should warn against the misuse of the sewers under penalty of the law.
Two years ago a careful estimate was made of the amount of water used by the factories in the present sewer district for washing purposes. It was found that approximately 800,000 gallons of water were daily discharging either directly into the river and its tributaries or into the old combined system of sewers and thence into the river. Great care should be taken to see that none of the acidulent
256
ANNUAL REPORT
water from the factories be allowed to enter the new system of sewers. Water of this nature will not only be injurious to the vitrified and concrete sewers but will seriously impair the efficiency of the filters.
During the winter months a filter would very likely care for a certain amount of sewage per day more readily and for a longer period of time were its surface deeply furrowed. Snow would not be so likely to impede the proper and more general distri- bution of the sewage than if the surface of the fil- ter were left level. My preference, however, is to leave the filters as they were constructed. The sludge is more easily and thoroughly removed from a flat surface and it is not so liable to get mixed with the filtering material as when it is removed from a furrowed surface. This season's experience with flat surface filters will determine the method to pur- sue in the future.
No more filters should be used than are neces- sary to avoid overdosing and the sludge should be removed whenever its condition will permit of its removal. Four or five filters at first should be used and in rotation, and the sewage applied to each fil- ter with regularity and in about the same daily amounts.
At the filtration field 84.872 cubic yards of earth were removed in order to construct the 26 fil- ters. The combined area of the filters and embank- ments is about 20 acres. The underdrainage sys- tem consisting of pipe from 3 to 12 inches in diame- ter amounts to 23.430 feet or 4.437 miles. The dis- tribution system consists of pipe from 6 to 24 inches in diameter to the amount of 11.190 feet or 2.12 miles.
The sewerage system, as constructed, has been pretty thoroughly described in previous reports. It has been built practically on the lines. at the eleva-
257
ANNUAL REPORT
tion, and in accordance with the original plans and recommendations submitted to the Town under date of March, 1910. The actual cost of the system very closely conforms to the estimated cost of construc- tion, and the system today is working as satisfac- torily as was claimed in my original report that it would.
On the following pages will be found a schedule showing the size and length of pipe, the underdrain, and the manholes on the various streets in Town; also a few cuts showing the construction or comple- tion of a portion of the system.
I wish to express my deep appreciation of the many courtesies extended to me by members of the sewer Committee and Board of Commissioners.
Respectfully submitted,
J. J. VAN VALKENBURGH,
Engineer.
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ANNUAL REPORT
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Showing Total Cost of Sewer System
J. J. Van Valkenburgh, engineer. $ 38,664.96
R. H. Newell, constructing filter beds. 39,588.88
Bruno & Petitti, contractors. 169,923.22
C. E. Trumbull Co., contractors. 103,999.70
Iron pipe 54,803.75
Vitrified pipe 23,866.51
Manhole covers and frames 5,361.28
Material for reinforcement 1,555.05
Land for filter field. 5,625.00
Land damages and legal advice. 1,780.12
Gates for filter field. 4,353.25
N. Y., N. H. & H. Ry. Co. 4,886.08
Water Dept., labor and material.
1,640.23
Highway Dept., labor and material
2,597.84
Surveying 609.30
Freight and expressing
134.01
House and well at filter fields.
635.07
Traveling expenses of committee.
61.45
Clerical work 53.90
Advertising and printing
155.20
Printing and sale of bonds
540.00
Rent of office
285.00
Rent of vard
300.00
Miscellaneous
61.60
Total $461,481.40
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ANNUAL REPORT
VIEW OF THE FILTER FIELDS
260
ANNUAL REPORT
VIEW OF THE ELEVATED TRUNK LINE IN PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTION AT HEBRONVILLE
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ANNUAL REPORT
ELEVATED TRUNK LINE AT HEBRONVILLE
OPENING OF THE FIRST GATE AT THE FILTER FIELDS BY DR. C. S. HOLDEN, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SEWER COMMISSIONERS AUG. 11. 1913
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ANNUAL REPORT
RULES AND REGULATIONS
Relating to Private Sewers
1. All applications for the construction or alter- ation of private sewers and their entrance into com- mon sewers shall be made to licensed drain lavers, who shall obtain a permit from the office of the Sewer Commissioners before said sewer can be laid.
2. The sizes and materials of private sewers shall be such as the agent of the Sewer Commis- sioners shall prescribe and in conformity with the requirements of the Board of Health. Said sewers shall be laid accurately to straight lines and grades which, with the location, must be approved by said agent. If angles, along the lines thereof, are un- avoidable, manholes or other approved means of access shall be provided.
3. The materials and labor required in the construction of private sewers shall be provided and the work done by the licensed drain layers, or their duly authorized agents, and by no other person or persons, excepting that the applicant may make all of the excavation and back-fill outside the street lines excepting so much as will affect the proper bedding and securing of the pipe or other structure.
4. No person or licensed drain layer shall be allowed to make any alteration in, or make any con- nection with any private sewer, except as stated in the original permit. Leave to depart therefrom must be obtained from the Sewer Commissioners.
5. The Sewer Commissioners may at any time require such grease traps to be introduced along the line of any private sewer, or on the discharge of any fixture connected therewith, as they may deem necessary for the proper maintenance of the said private sewer, or of the common sewers.
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ANNUAL REPORT
6. No storm water, exhaust from the steam engines, blow-off from steam boilers, acid, naphtha, gasoline or any explosive gases and substances or excessive quantity of manufacturing or other waste which shall be at a high temperature or otherwise calculated to unduly interfere with the proper main- tenance of the common sewers or filter beds, shall be allowed to enter therein.
7. All private sewers shall be under the control of the Sewer Commissioners. All cleaning, repairs, and alterations of private sewers, connected with the public sewers, must be done by a licensed drain layer who shall first obtain a permit from the office of the Sewer Commissioners. The expense in clean- ing and repairing any private sewer shall be paid for by the owner of the premises connected by said private sewer, provided, however, that any labor on private sewers occasioned by defects or obstruc- tions in the common sewer shall be paid for by the Town.
8. Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of these rules and regulations shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding twenty ($20.00) dollars for each violation.
RULES FOR LAYING DRAINS
1. No connection or alteration of a private sewer, which enters a public sewer can be made by any person without first receiving a permit from the office of the Sewer Commissioners as to the lo- cation, size, lines and grades of said sewer.
2. Such information as the Sewer Commis- sioners have with regard to position of junctions will be furnished to the drain layers, but at their
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ANNUAL REPORT
risk as to the accuracy of same. If lines and grades are needed the same will be furnished by the Sewer Commissioners.
3. In opening any street or public way, all sur- facing materials must be removed with the least possible injury or loss of the same, and, together with the excavated materials from the trenches, must be placed where they will cause the least in- convenience to the public. As little as possible of the trench must be dug until the junction piece into the sewer is found, unless it is first determined to make a new opening into the sewer; in which case on pipe sewers where no branch exists, the pipe must be removed and a branch pipe inserted or con- nection may be made in a manhole, but this shall not be done except in the presence of an agent of the Sewer Commissioners. Tunneling under the street or sidewalk is prohibited unless authorized by special permit from the said agent of the Sewer- age Commissioners. Drain layers will be held re- sponsible for any injury to the main sewer caused by them.
4. The Sewerage Commissioners and their rep- resentatives are to have at all times, facilities for inspecting the work and materials while under the charge of the drain layer, and must meet with their approval.
5. The least inclination that can be allowed for a private sewer, not over six inches in diameter, connecting water-closet, kitchen and all other drains, liable to receive solid substances, is one-quarter of an inch per foot.
6. The ends of all pipes, not to be immediately connected with, are to be securely stopped by some water-tight imperishable materials.
7. No privy vaults or cesspools can be con- nected with the sewers.
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ANNUAL REPORT
8. The materials and size of drains shall be such as the Sewer Commissioners shall prescribe and in conformity with the requirements of the Board of Health. Said drains shall be laid accur- ately to straight lines and grades. If angles along the lines are unavoidable, manholes or other ap- proved means of access shall be provided.
9. All joints in drains must be made with jute and cement, and if laid in wet soil the joints must be wrapped in cloth, or some approved material, that will prevent the water from washing the cement out of the joint. The whole aim is to get water-tight joints. The inside of any drain after it is laid, must be left smooth and perfectly clean throughout its entire length; and to insure the same a scraper of suitable material of the shape of the pipe and slightly less in diameter shall be drawn through each length of pipe after same has been laid.
10. Whenever it is necessary to distrub a drain in actual use, it must in no way be obstructed with- out the special direction of the Sewerage Commis- sioners or their agent.
11. The back filling over drains must be solidly rammed, and together with the replacing of surfac- ing materials, must be done within forty-eight hours after the completion of the part of the drain lying within the public way, and done so as to make the sidewalk, gutter and roadway at least as good as they were before they were disturbed, and to the satisfaction of the Superintendent of Streets and the Sewer Commissioners, and the drain layer will be held responsible for any settlement of the ground which occurs within one year on account of the lay- ing of said drain.
12. In case a water or gas pipe should come in the way of a drain, the question of passing over or
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ANNUAL REPORT
under it, or of raising or lowering it, also of its pro- tection from injury or settling, must be determined by the agent of the Sewerage Commissioners.
13. Every drain laver must'enclose any open- ing which he may make in the public streets or ways with sufficient barriers and must maintain lights at the same at night, and must take all other necessary precautions to guard the public effectually against all accidents from the beginning to the end of the work, and can only lay drains on conditions that he shall use every precaution against accidents to per- sons, horses, vehicles, or property of any kind, and must be held responsible for the same. Drain layers must take particular care in blasting, and will be held responsible for any injury to adjoining struc- tures.
14. The drain laver shall faithfully observe all rules for laying drains as adopted by the Sewer Commissioners, and shall not cover any of his work until it has been examined and accepted by the au- thorized agent of the Sewer Commissioners.
15. Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of these rules and regulations shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding twenty ($20.00) dollars for each violation.
Annual Report of the Board of Health
The annual report of the Board of Health is hereby submitted.
The personnel of the Board remains the same as last year, and with the same officers, Dr. R. P. Kent, Chairman; Dr. C. S. Holden, Secretary, and Mr. Stephen H. Foley as the remaining member. The other officers, appointive, are Dr. Hugh Gaw, Inspector of the Slaughtering of Meat; Mr. Caleb E. Parmenter, Inspector of Milk, and Messrs. Read and Seagrave, Inspectors of Plumbing.
The usual routine duties devolving upon this Board have been met promptly, and the requests for better sanitation, where nuisances were found to exist, have been complied with without friction.
The care and isolation of cases of contagious diseases, constitute the most important duty of this Board. The nurses connected with the Anti-tuber- culosis Society have been of great assistance in the care of the tubercular cases; in many instances they have done most of the nursing, but their great value to this Board is that they teach the members of the household the precautions to be taken in caring for patients ill with this disease. Attleboro has its fair share of consumptives, and the problem of properly caring for them is a difficult one; the crowded con- dition of the State Sanitoria prevents prompt ad- mittance after applications have been filed, and this long waiting, under unfavorable conditions, is de- pressing and injurious to the patient, and is a source of danger to the other members of the household and to the community. Unless provisions are made by the State or County for more Sanitoria, this
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