Q. What do you think of the following arrangement, to be used as a cesspool where there is a city water-supply but no sewer?

The outer walls to be laid in hydraulic-cement; the central partition to be of brick laid in common mortar, so as to act as a filter; the outlet on the other side of this partition to run the liquid to a pile of loose stones, where it will soak into the soil. Of course, the organic germs will still remain in the liquid after it leaves the cesspool, but will there be enough to do any harm in a place where the water-supply is obtained from the city and the soil is a light sand? The object in this is to save the expense of a cesspool large enough to hold both the solid and liquid waste of the house for any length of time. The lot will be about 140 feet deep in the rear of the house. A is the inlet from house, B vent, C outlet, and D D apartments separated by a brick wall.

A. This arrangement will not act as intended. First, the partition - which is meant to act as a filter - will have its pores filled tight with solid matter in a few days, and cease to soak water. The contents of the inlet side will then rise and pour over the top of the partition.

If kitchen-sink drainage is discharged into this receptacle, the grease from dish-washing would soon collect as a scum on the surface and choke the outlet-pipe. The apparatus would act very well as a grease-interceptor if it is close to the house (not otherwise), by making one or more holes in the partition about half way down, by taking out a brick, and attaching a T-branch to the outlet-pipe, so it may take water from a point a foot below the surface, and avoid taking in the floating grease.

As to allowing the tank to overflow into a pile of stones, that will make a nuisance at this point and pollute the soil. The proper method is to distribute the contents of the tank on to the surface of the soil, by dipping it out when filled, or by irrigation-pipes under the surface. It is a mistake to suppose that the fluids of house-drainage are less harmful than the solids so-called. The latter all become fluid or gaseous in a very short time, and do not settle to the bottom, as supposed. The only sediment found in such places is composed of the sand used in scouring floors, and such particles of dirt as may adhere to it.

Figure 76.