USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1925 > Part 9
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DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION-PRESENT AND FUTURE. In order to estimate the present volume of domestic sewage produced in various parts of the town and to predict the future volume, it is necessary to know how the population is distributed throughout the town, and to forecast what its future distribution will be. The drainage areas tributary to various parts of the sewer system are outlined on the General Plan, page R-66 these drainage areas are subdivided into smaller areas, termed sections. The total population and the density of population within the drainage sections have been estimated from data furnished by the United States Census Bureau, which gives the distribution of population by census enumeration districts ; the limits of the 1920 enumeration districts are nearly identical with the ward bound- aries. The 1920 population densities have been determined from the 1920 census figures and these densities have been used as a guide in estimating 1925 densities.
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Population densities for 1955 have been estimated from the total population predicted in 1955 and from a forecast of the growth and development which may be expected to take place both within and beyond the limits of the present "built-up" area.
Saugus comprises several communities, namely, Cliftondale, Saugus Center, East Saugus, North Saugus, Lynnhurst and Golden Hills. Other sections of the town such as Pleasant Hills and Little Italy have been given local names but in this investigation they are included as parts of the above mentioned communities. Cliftondale, Saugus Center and East Saugus include most of the population of the town. These three com- munities are rapidly expanding to form one continuous com- munity. North Saugus, Lynnhurst and Golden Hills are separ- ated from the rest of the town and from each other. North Saugus is practically rural in character ; Lynnhurst in part has developed somewhat beyond the rural stage; Golden Hills is quite remote from the remaining parts of the town and its development is largely of summer camp type.
It is expected that during the next thirty years most of the growth in population will take place within the present built up districts, much area in these districts being suitable for this purpose. By confining future growth to these districts consid- erable expense will be saved the town when it provides utilities to serve this future growth. The present "built up" portion of the town include about 2, 100 acres ; the present average density of population is about 5₺ people per acre, and the forecasted future density is about 11 people per acre.
DISPOSAL OF SAUGUS SEWAGE
It has already been pointed out that the greater portion of Saugus lies within the watershed of the Saugus River. What- ever method is adopted for disposing of the sewage, most of it will naturally be collected at East Saugus, whence it must be pumped for disposal.
POSSIBLE METHODS OF DISPOSAL. Four possible methods of disposing of the sewage of the town have been considered ; namely (1) by discharging it into a branch of the North Metro- politan Sewer System in Malden, (2) by discharging it into a branch of the North Metropolitan Sewer System in Chelsea, (3)
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by treating it at a treatment plant to be located within the limits of the town on the marshes near the junction of the Saugus River and the Pines River and (4) by discharging it into works of the City of Lynn. The map of the Metropolitan Sewerage Districts, page R-30, shows how Saugus is located in relation to the several points of disposal above mentioned.
Saugus lies entirely outside the Metropolitan Sewerage Dis- tricts, and the North Metropolitan Sewers into which the Saugus sewage might be discharged were not built large enough to care for any extensive area outside the present limits of the District. In order for Saugus to become a part of the Metropolitan Sewer- age Districts legislation to that effect would be necessary. If
the sewage of Saugus was to be discharged into the Metropolitan System, the fact that practically all of the town lies outside the natural drainage area tributary to the North Metropolitan District which make it necessary to pump about all of the sewage from the Saugus drainage area in order to discharge it into the North Metropolitan Sewers. From the point where the Saugus sewage would naturally collect at East Saugus, it would be necessary to construct a force main about 1.3 miles long and about 3.4 miles of main sewer to convey the sewage of the town into the Metropolitan System at Malden. To convey the Saugus sewage into the Metropolitan System at Chelsea, a force main about 1.3 miles long would be required together with about 3.6 miles of main sewer. Additional pumping along the route of the main sewer to either Malden or Chelsea would probably be necessary.
Disposal of the sewage by means of a sewage treatment works would involve the construction of sedimentation tanks and a filtration area, together with appurtenant constructions. The effluent from the sewage treatment works would be discharged into tidal waters near the junction of the Saugus River and the Pines River. The entire plant would have to be constructed well above the level of the marsh lands, which would involve a large cost for filling. A force main about 1.2 miles long would be required and an outfall sewer which together with the cost of building the treatment plant would involve a very large expenditure. Moverover, it is probable that a treatment plant built at this location would at times be quite offensive both to inhabitants of Saugus and of Lynn, and on this account it would
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not receive favorable consideration by the Massachusetts Depart- ment of Public Health.
PROPOSED METHOD OF DISPOSAL. The most practical and economical method of disposing of the Saugus sewage appears to be by discharging it into the sewerage works of the city of Lynn, and the plan of sewerage proposed for Saugus has been adapted to disposal by this method. The new pumping station and outfall sewer now under contract for construction by Lynn will have ample capacity to take care of the sewage of Saugus.
The Western Intercepter of the Lynn Sewer system and the Summer street sewer serve that part of Lynn adjoining East Saugus, and are the nearest of the Lynn sewers into which Saugus might be permitted to discharge its sewage. These sewers are somewhat overtaxed at present, because of the storm water which enters them, but it is quite probable that steps will be taken at an early date to relieve this situation. If this relief is accomplished prior to the construction of sewers at Saugus, it is probable that as an initial step Saugus might discharge its sewage into the Summer street sewer near Austin square, whence it would reach the pumping station and outfall sewer. Eventually it would be necessary for Saugus to build a pipe line all the way to the Lynn pumping station. The length of force main needed to reach the Summer street sewer at Austin square would be about 0.4 mile, and to reach the pumping station about 2.2 miles would be required. Even though it was neces- sary to construct a pipe line to the pumping station at the out- set, the construction cost would be much less than for building either a connection with the Metropolitan Sewer system or a treatment plant on the marshes ; operating costs for disposal through the Lynn sewers would also be less than for disposal by the other methods.
The possibility of disposing of the Saugus sewage by dis- charge into the Lynn sewers has been taken up informally with the Commission on Ways and Drainage for the City of Lynn. This was necessary before submitting the proposed plan of sew- erage to the Department of Public Health for its advice, in accordance with Chapter 11I, Section 17 of the General Laws. In reply to the following question :- "Would your Board be willing to approve of the disposal of sewage from the Town of Saugus, through works of the City of Lynn, provided that the plans of such disposal works and any financial obligations were
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agreed upon, both by the Town of Saugus and the City of Lynn?" the Commission on Ways and Drainage voted "Yes." This action does not of course determine what attitude might be taken by a future Commission, but it does establish the fact that the present board is not opposed to such an arrangement. Before undertaking any actual construction a definite legal agreement covering this matter should be made between the two municipalities.
ADVICE OF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH. The method of disposing of the sewage of Saugus by discharging it into works of the City of Lynn and the proposed system of sewers to serve the Town, which is described in the following pages, have been submitted to the Department of Public Health for their ad- vice, in accordance with the General Laws. Both these matters have been approved by the Department as stated in their formal communication to the Saugus Planning Board.
PROPOSED SEWER SYSTEM.
A Separate System of sewers is proposed for Saugus. As al- ready explained such a system is intended to receive only domes- tic sewage and liquid industrial wastes, without the admixture of storm or surface water.
The proposed separate sewer system is shown on the General Plan, page R-66. This plan also shows the 16 drainage districts into which the town has been divided in planing the sewer sys- tem. Each district is served by a particular group of lateral sewers and generally by a main or submain sewer. Sizes are given for the more important sewers ; in general the lateral sewers will be eight inches in diameter.
It should be kept clearly in mind that the present investiga- tion and plan are preliminary only, that the sizes given are ap- proximate, and that a more complete study, which must be made for the preparation of construction plans, may show minor chan- ges to be advisable. Preliminary plans are suitable to determine the magnitude of a project but should never be relied upon for actual construction purposes.
MAIN PUMPING STATION AND FORCE MAIN. The main pumping station is to be located at East Saugus near the inter- section of Lincoln avenue and Chestnut street. The pumping station will consist of a storage basin, dry pump well, pumping
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equipment and a superstructure. Both the substructure and superstructure of the station will be large enough for future requirements. The pumping equipment for the initial installa- tion will consist of two single stage vertical shaft, centrifugal pumps of 1,000 gallons per minute rated capacity, operated by two 15 H. P. motors automatically controlled. Ultimately two additional 2,000 gallon per minute pump units will be required.
For the initial construction it is planned to provide a force main 12 inches in diameter extending from the main pumping station across the Saugus River to Austin Square in Lynn, where it will discharge into the Summer street sewer. Ultimately it will be necessary to build a force main from the main pumping station to the Lynn Pumping Station at the end of the outfall sewer. This force main will be 20 inches in diameter ; its route will be along private property, back streets and the Boston & Maine Railroad thereby saving the cost of expensive trenching in permently paved streets.
SAUGUS RIVER INTERCEPTING SEWER-EAST SAUGUS TO SAUGUS CENTER. The Saugus River Intercepting Sewer will extend southwesterly from the Main Pumping Station a short distance in Chestnut street and then northerly across private property to the bank of the Saugus River. It will follow the flats along the river to Porter terrace; thence along Porter terrace to Riverside court and along Riverside court to a point about midway between Stocker street and the river. From here it will extend south westerly approximately parallel with Stocker street to a point just north of Winter street. From this point it will extend in a northwesterly direction following the southwest bank of the river and the creek to the end of Nowell street. It will then cross the creek and extend a few hundred feet westerly and parallel to the railroad, to the junction point of the Clifton- dale and North Saugus main sewers.
The intercepting sewer will be 27 inches in diameter ; it will have to be comparatively deep throughout its length and well below the normal river level. Where the sewer crosses the creek at the end of Nowell street it will be 30 inches in diame- ter and of cast iron pipe.
At the lower end, near the pumping station, the Lincoln avenue Main Sewer will join the Intercepting Sewer. Lateral sewers serving District 13, which includes a large part of East Saugus, will join the intercepting sewer from Riverside court,
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Stocker street, Wendall street, Springvale avenue, Winter street, Westland avenue, Nowell street and Belmont street.
CLIFTONDALE MAIN SEWER-SAUGUS CENTER TO CLIFTON- DALE. This sewer is planned to serve a large part of Saugus Center, and that part of Cliftondale which slopes in a general westerly and northerly direction, including Districts Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. It will extend from the upper end of the Saugus River Intercepting Sewer northwesterly and near parallel to the railroad to a point on the right of way line of the railroad of about 400 feet east of Central street. It will then turn and extend northerly across the railroad and along Auburn street to Jasper street, thence westerly in Jasper street to Central street, northerly in Central street to Emory street and westerly in Emory street, and its continuation to the westerly side of the creek, which flows through this section. It will then follow along the westerly and southerly side of the creek to Old County road near Talbot street, thence southerly in Old County road to Denver street, westerly in Denver street a short distance, and then southerly across private property to the intersection of Laurel street and Elmwood avenue. From Elmwood avenue it will extend southeasterly in Laurel street across the railroad, thence along the easterly line of the railroad right-of-way, and across Adams street to a point opposite Forest avenue. From this point it will extend easterly to Cliftondale avenue and along Cliftondale avenue, and First street to School street, thence southwesterly in School street to the railroad right-of-way, southerly along the railroad right-of-way to Essex street, south- erly and easterly in Essex street to Cliftondale square, and northeasterly in Lincoln avenue to Central street.
This sewer will be 24 inches in diameter from the Saugus River Intercepting Sewer to the corner of Emory and Central streets, 20 inches to Denver street, 18 inches to a point just north of Pleasant Hills Railroad Station, 15 inches to the corner of Essex and Eustis streets, 10 inches to Mt. Vernon street and eight inches from there to its upper end.
The Elmwood Avenue Sub-main Sewer serving District No. 5 will join the Cliftondale Main Sewer at the corner of Elmwood avenue and Laurel street. The Vale avenue Sub-main Sewer serving District No. 3 will join the Cliftondale Main Sewer at the corner of Vale avenue and Cliftondale avenue. At the corner of Eustis and Essex streets the Whitney street Sub-
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main Sewer will enter the main sewer ; this sewer will carry the sewage pumped from the relatively low area in the vicinity of Lincoln avenue near the Revere line. Lateral sewers will join the Cliftondale Main Sewer at various points.
The Cliftondale Main Sewer has been planned to serve as many people as possible along its route, but on occount of the local topography considerable of its length will pass through areas which are but thinly populated. Districts No. I and No. 2 will be served by the upper end of this sewer; these districts include some of the most densely populated parts of Cliftondale and are badly in need of sewers. The part of Saugus Center included in District No. 6 also needs sewers badly. The Saugus River Intercepting Sewer, the Cliftondale Main Sewer and part of the lateral sewers serving Cliftondale, Saugus Center and East Saugus should be included in the initial con- struction.
GOLDEN HILLS. This section is far away from the other builtup parts of the town. Eventually sewers will have to be provided here, regardless of the cost which will be large be- cause of the amount of rock to be encountered and the long ex- tensions which will be needed to carry sewage from this area into the Saugus Sewer System ; a main sewer should be built following the course of the stream as far as Main street. From here it will be necessary to pump the sewage into a sewer at a higher level, located in Main street. The sewage would then flow by gravity through this sewer in Main street, to the Clif- tondale Main Sewer at Denver street.
ELMWOOD AVENUE SUB-MAIN SEWER - PLEASANT HILLS AND CLIFTONDALE. This sewer is planned to serve District No. 5, comprising the western part of Cliftondale and part of Pleasant Hills. It will extend in Elmwood avenue from the Cliftondale Main Sewer at Laurel street to Crescent street ; thence westerly in Crescent street to Vine street, southerly in Vine and Essex streets to Pleasant street, westerly in Pleasant street to the continuation of Felton court, southerly in Felton court to Felton street, westerly in Felton street to Broadway ; and thence southwesterly in Broadway about 1,300 feet. It will be 12 inches in diameter from the Cliftondale Main Sewer to Essex street and eight inches in diameter from Essex street to its upper end. The sewer will be at a normal depth. Lateral sewers will connect with it from numerous streets along its route.
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PLEASANT HILLS. Drainage District No. 4 comprises the remaining part of Pleasant Hills which is not included in Dis- trict No. 5. Lateral sewers serving District No. 4 will connect to the Cliftondale Main Sewer which passes through the westerly part of this district. The Sub-Main Sewer for District No. 4 will extend from Adams street near Jewett street in a northwesterly direction, across private property north of Adams street, to the Cliftondale Main Sewer. The Sub-main Sewer is planned across private property to avoid excessively deep trenching which would be encountered if it was to be built in Adams street between Oak street and Cliftondale avenue.
VALE AVENUE SUB-MAIN SEWER - CLIFTONDALE. This sewer will serve District No. 3. It will extend from Cliftondale Main Sewer at the corner of Vale avenue and Cliftondale avenue along the valley of the brook which drains this section to Catalpa street. The lower end of this sewer is to be in Vale avenue, but the remaining portion is to be entirely on private property. From Central street to its lower end it is to be 10 inches in diameter and from Catalpa street to Central street eight inches in diameter. The valley along which this sewer is to be built is so low and level that it will be necessary to lay the sewer on an unusually flat slope, in order to avoid pumping at its junc- tion with the Cliftondale Main Sewer. On account of its flat slope it will be necessary to install flushing tanks at the upper end of the sewer. Lateral sewers serving the streets in this dis- trict will join the sewer at several points.
CLIFTONDALE PUMPING STATION AND FORCE MAIN. That part of Cliftondale which lies between Linwood street, Fairview avenue, and the Revere boundary southerly of Laurel street, is relatively lower than the rest of this section and the sewage from this area cannot be discharged into the Cliftondale main sewer by gravity. A pumping station is planned at the corner of Lau- rel street and Mount Vernon street. Lateral sewers will deliver the sewage to the pumping station and it will then be pumped through a four inch force main in Mount Vernon street and Whit- ney street to an eight inch sub-main sewer at the corner of Myrtle street and Whitney street. The Whitney street sub-main sewer will extend northerly in Whitney street and easterly in Eustis street, to the Cliftondale Main Sewer at Essex street.
The pumping station will consist of a wet well, a dry pump well, pumping equipment and a small superstructure. The
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pumping equipment will consist of two single state, vertical shaft, centrifugal pumps with a rated capacity of 150 gallons per minute operated by two 5 H.P. motors, automatically controlled.
NORTH SAUGUS MAIN SEWER-SAUGUS CENTER, NORTH SAUGUS AND LYNNHURST. The North Saugus Main Sewer will extend from the upper end of the Saugus River Intercepting Sewer northerly across the Boston & Main Railroad, Auburn street and Jasper street to a point just north of Jasper street From this point it will extend northwesterly along the river bank crossing Pearson street at its easterly end, crossing Woodbury avenue, about 250 feet east of Round Hill street, and crossing Bridge street about 200 feet east of Central street. From Bridge street it will continue along to a point in Central street, about 200 feet south of the intersection of Elm street and Central street. It will then extend northerly in Central street to Ellis street. The sewer will be 15 inches in diameter from the Intercepting Sewer to a point about 600 feet northerly of Elm street, 10 inches in diameter to Lilypond avenue, 12 inches in diameter to Birchwood street and 10 inches in diameter from Birchwood street to its upper end.
This sewer is planned at a normal depth where located in public thoroughfares. The portion between Central street and Woodbury avenue will probably require some special construc- tion on account of the irregularity of the topography and the nearness of the sewer to the river. This main sewer will receive the sewage from Districts Nos. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. .
Drainage District No. 11, which lies east of the Saugus River at Woodbury avenue, will be served by a sub-main sewer in Woodbury avenue, which will cross the Saugus River and join the North Saugns Main sewer. Drainage District No. 10 lies east of the" Saugus River at Bridge street ; the sub-main sewer planned to serve this district will cross the river at Bridge street, and join the North Saugus Main Sewer. District No. 9 is a small area adjacent to Elm street. This district will be served by a lateral sewer in Elm street, connecting to the North Saugus Main Sewer at Central street.
Drainage District No 12 comprises the territory which lies immediately adjacent to the main sewer including part of Saugus Center ; it will be served by numerous lateral sewers and the main sewer.
The Lynnhurst Force Main will connect to the main sewer at
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Birchwood street. The North Saugus Force Main will connect to the upper end of the main sewer at Ellis street.
LYNNHURST SUB-MAIN SEWER. The Lynnhurst Sub-main Sewer will serve?District No. 8 which lies just south of Birch Pond. This sewer will extend along Walnut street from Birch- wood street to Jefferson avenue. From Birchwood street to Elm street it will be 10 inches in diameter and from Elm street to Jefferson avenue it will be eight inches in diameter.
The nearness of this district to Birch.Pond, which is a part of the Lynn Water supply, will make the building of sewers in this district imperative, when it has become somewhat more devel- oped ; without sewers the pond would be in danger of pollution by the seepage from cesspools.
District No. 8 is not a part of the Saugus River watershed and therefore the sewage will have to be pumped to the North Saugus Main Sewer. The Pumping Station is to be located at the corner of Walnut street and Birchwood street. It will consist of a wet well, dry pump well, pumping equipment and superstructure. The pumps will be two single stage, vertical shaft, centrifugal pumps with a rated capacity of 300 gallons per minute. They will be operated by two 10 H. P. moters, automatically con- trolled. The force main will extend along Birchwood street, from Walnut street to Central street, it will be built of cast iron pipe, six inches in diameter.
NORTH SAUGUS SUB-MAIN SEWER. The North Saugus Sub- main Sewer will serve District No. 7, which includes the built up portion of North Saugus. Starting at a pumping station in the low lands about 500 feet southerly of Walnut street and about midway between Central street and the Turnpike, this sewer is to extend nothwesterly to the Turnpike at a point about 1,200 feet south of Walnut street, and thence northerly along the Turnpike to Walnut street. From the pumping station to the Turnpike the sewer will be 12 inches in diameter and along the Turnpike eight inches in diameter. Lateral sewers are planned to connect with the sub-main sewer at its upper end, and near the point where it enters the Turnpike.
Several routes were considered for conveying the sewage from North Saugus to the Saugus River intercepting sewer, before adopting the one above described; those other routes all lie between Central street and Prankers Pond. It was decided however that it would be more economical to pump the North
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