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25
Flushing and Ventilation of Sewers.
During the last two years, both the Sanitary and
Public Health Committee and the Highway Committee
have had Reports upon this subject from the Surveyor
and from myself, but the matter is still under their
consideration. A large amount of work has been done
by the latter authority. Besides the cleansing and
ventilation of foul Sewers that have been complained
of from time to time by myself, or inhabitants living
in their vicinity, a large number of new gullies properly
trapped, and furnished with catch pits, have been
substituted for old and imperfect ones. Additional
ventilating grids have been placed in the middle of the
roads, and men have been employed in removal of
sand and grit, from sewers where it caused obstructions
to the flow of sewage, and consequently generated
foul odours. Sewers have also been flushed by water,
where the current is found to be sluggish, either from
scanty rainfall, or other causes. Although I am of
opinion that by careful attention to the flushing and
ventilation of sewers where they are foul, obstructed,
ill-constructed and defective, will do much to obviate
dangers from sewer gas, I am satisfied that a practical
solution of the difficulty in managing town sewers has
not yet been arrived at. Street grids are simple and
effective in ventilating the sewers, not likely to get out
of order, but without other precautions, not generally
attended to, such as providing an amount of water
enough to keep up a constant current in the stream
below, they are only dangerous nuisances. The pestiferous
vapor issuing from them at night or early
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