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drains, and that, if only the former can be kept from entering
the house, it is of less consequence to prevent the entry of
the latter, and this theory is further borne out by the London
County Council's proposed By-laws, which provide that a free
untrapped opening shall be left to the house drain at a point as
near the intercepting trap as possible. This requirement is, of
course, based on the hope that the lower opening acts as a
fresh air inlet, while the continuation upwards of the soil
pipe forms an outlet; but I know of many cases in which a
nuisance has been caused by the emanations from these so-called
inlets, even although they were provided with mica flap
valves, a provision which is not insisted on in the By-laws.
Many houses are drained by what is termed a combined
system, and in any case when such a system is adopted the untrapped
opening mentioned above will be in direct communication
with what is really a miniature sewer, and practically will
be comparable to a sewer ventilator in the road. There is
nothing to forbid this opening being directly under the windows.
Under these circumstances, what will happen under ordinary
conditions and to a greater degree if the drain should get
blocked? Shall we not get justifiable complaints of offensive
smells? We may be quite certain that if people complain
of the road ventilators they will the more complain of the
so-called "air inlets."
The question of sewer ventilation has been prominently
before you, and the connection of the interceptor with the
necessity for this ventilation must be apparent, for we are
gradually sealing off all the old outlets of the sewers, while
the ventilators at the surface of the roads must now act as
outlets and inlets, except in the few cases where upcast shafts
are provided. It seems extraordinary that the idea has never
been systematically carried out of rendering the drains under
the houses watertight, doing away with the interceptor and
carrying up a soil-pipe ventilator, which would also be a
sewer ventilator, in accordance with the present regulations
governing the provision of soil pipes, to a sufficient height to
allow the outlet of any foul air that may escape. The necessity
for an interceptor now seems to be such an article of faith that it
is rank heresy to suggest its abolition, we find consequently
that a conference of experienced Surveyors recommend that a