1 The Gedney Way Station of the New York, Westchester & Boston Railway is located in the town of White Plains, about 11⁄2 miles south of the center of the city of that name. The natural drainage of the land in the vicinity of the station is taken by a small stream which flows in a southerly direction parallel to the railway tracks and about 40 feet distant from them. This stream is a tributary of the Mamaroneck river, and its water forms a part of one of the sources of supply of the New York Inter-urban Water Company, which furnishes water to the city of Mount Vernon, the town of Harrison, and the village of Mamaroneck. The water from this source of supply is taken by the company from the Mamaroneck river at an intake located about 32 miles below Gedney Way, and is passed through pressure filters and treated with chlorine before being delivered to the consumer. According to the report of the engineer of the railway company, the soil in the neighborhood of the station is a sandy loam. The sewage to be cared for is that which will be received from the fixtures located in the station, comprising two toilets, two wash bowls and a slop sink. The plans contemplate the construction of a water tight concrete cesspool for retaining the solids of the sewage; and a covered bed of broken stones, without walls or floor, for receiving the overflow from the cesspool. The cesspool as shown is a square covered concrete tank of about 2,800 gallons capacity; and is to be located on the east side of the railway tracks, 152 feet distant at its nearest point from the stream mentioned above. The walls and floor of the tank are of concrete, 12 inches thick without openings, making the tank water tight for all practical purposes. Since it is intended to allow the liquid effluent from the tank to soak into the soil from the stone bed immediately adjacent, this form of construction is not only unnecessary but undesirable. By making the walls of the tank porous a considerable surface would become available for the absorption of the liquid portion of the sewage, and the quantity to be cared for by the floor of the stone bed would be materially reduced. It would appear desirable, therefore, to construct the cesspool with dry rubble walls of suitable thickness, or walls of hollow tile laid with the openings extending in a radical direction. The floor of the cesspool should be omitted entirely, and, if necessary, a concrete footing provided for supporting the walls. The inlet of the tank is in the center of the west side, about 4 feet below the surface of the ground, and the outlet in the south side about 2 feet below the surface; that is, the outlet is 2 feet above the inlet which will cause the pipe leading to the tank to stand full of sewage for a considerable distance, a condition which will be very likely to cause stoppages in the line. The inlet and outlet pipes should be arranged so that the water level of the tank will always be below the invert of the inlet pipe, and the outlet pipe should be fitted with a "T" extending about 18 inches below the surface of the liquid to prevent scum, which will form on the surface, from passing out of the tank and clogging the stone bed. A bed of broken stone is to be constructed immediately adjacent to the cesspool. This bed is to be 8 feet square and to extend from the surface of the ground to a point below the water level of the tank. No walls or floors are provided. The effluent from the cesspool will overflow into the bed and filter into the ground through its sides and bottom. At its nearest point, this bed is over 150 feet from the bank of the stream mentioned above as part of one of the sources of supply of the New York Inter-Urban Water Company. The site of the plant is on the opposite side of the railroad embankment from the stream and the elevation of the ground at the site is below that of the stream. The surface drainage from the immediate vicinity of the plant reaches the stream at a point about 1200 feet south of the cesspool. A 6-inch tile sewer about 220 feet long will conduct the sewage from the station to the cesspool. This line as indicated on the drawings has three sharp bends none of which are provided with manholes. The grade of the sewer is not given. This line should be laid with a fall of not less than 2 feet per 100 feet, and all bends made with "Y's" and % bends so arranged as to be easily reached in case it is necessary to clean the line. In view of the results of our examination of these plans and after careful consideration of the design and of local conditions, I beg to recommend that the plans be approved and a permit issued for the discharge of the effluent from the disposal plant by percolation through the soil into tributaries of the Mamaroneck river, in the town of White Plains, Westchester county, with the following conditions: 1. That the plant be constructed and operated in accordance with the rules and regulations for the protection from contamination of the public water supply furnished by the New York Inter-Urban Water Company of Westchester county, made, ordained and established on the 16th day of September, 1907, pursuant to chapter 661 of the Laws of the State of New York for 1893, as amended by chapter 589 of the Laws of 1896. 2. That the cesspool or tank for receiving the sewage be constructed without a floor and with porous walls of dry rubble, hollow tile or other suitable material. 3. That the inlet and outlet of the cesspool or tank be so located that the invert of the inlet will always be above the water line of the tank. 4. That the outlet of the cesspool or tank be protected by a "T" or some form of baffle to prevent the scum and floating material from passing out. 5. That the sewer leading to the cesspool or tank be laid with a uniform fall of not less than 2 feet per 100 feet. 6. That all bends in the sewer line be made with "Y's" and 1% bends, and that the "Y's" be so arranged as to be readily accessible in case it is necessary to clean the sewer. Respectfully submitted, ALBANY, N. Y., November 23, 1917 THEODORE HORTON, Chief Engineer PERMIT Application having been duly made to the State Commissioner of Health, as provided by section 76 of chapter 49 of the Laws of 1909, the “Public Health Law," as amended by chapter 553 of the Laws of 1911, constituting chapter 45 of the Consolidated Laws, permission is hereby given to the New York, Westchester & Boston Railway Company, to discharge effluent from the disposal plant to be constructed at the Gedney Way Station of the New York, Westchester & Boston Railway Company, into the waters of a tributary of the Mamaroneck river, within the town of White Plains, in accordance with the plans accompanying the petition, under the following conditions: 1. That this permit shall be revocable at any time or subject to modification or change when in the judgment of the State Commissioner of Health such revocation, modification or change shall become necessary. 2. That the issuance of this permit shall not be deemed to affect in any way action by this Department on any future application that may be made for permission to discharge additional sewage or effluent into the waters of this State. 3. That the plant be constructed and operated in accordance with the rules and regulations for the protection from contamination of the public water supply furnished by the New York Inter-Urban Water Company of Westchester county, made, ordained and established on the 16th day of September, 1907, pursuant to chapter 661 of the Laws of the State of New York for 1893, as amended by chapter 589 of the Laws of 1896. 4. That in no case shall the effluent or any liquid from any part of the disposal plant or sewer be allowed to flow on the surface of the ground. 5. That the cesspool or tank for receiving the sewage be constructed without a floor and with porous walls of dry rubble, hollow tile or other suitable material. 6. That the inlet and outlet of the cesspool or tank be so located that the invert of the inlet will always be above the water line of the tank. 7. That the outlet of the cesspool or tank be protected by a “T” or some form of baffle to prevent the scum and floating material from passing out. 8. That the sewer leading to the cesspool or tank be laid with a uniform fall of not less than 2 feet per 100 feet. 9. That all bends in the sewer line be made with "Y's" and 1% bends and that the "Y's" be so arranged as to be readily accessible in case it is necessary to clean the sewer. M. NICOLL, JR., Acting Deputy State Commissioner of Health November 27, 1917 WHITESBORO HERMANN M. BIGGS, M.D., State Commissioner of Health: I beg to submit the following report on our examination of plans for proposed sewer extension in the village of Whitesboro, Oneida County, submitted to this Department for approval by the Board of Trustees on June 26, 1917. The village of Whitesboro is situated on the southwesterly side of the Mohawk river about 3 miles above the city of Utica. It had a population of 2,493 in 1915 according to the last State census. Plans for a comprehensive sanitary sewer system together with general plans for sewage disposal for the village were approved by this Department on November 14, 1900. Although the village was permitted to temporarily omit the construction of the disposal plant, it appears that the sewer system has been constructed in general accordance with the approved plans. On July 13, 1916 plans for a comparatively short sewer extension on Clyne Place in the village were approved on the following conditions: That whenever required by the State Commissioner of Health satisfactory detailed plans for preliminary purification of the entire sanitary sewage of the village of Whitesboro by screening or sedimentation, accompanied by general plans for additional or supplementary works for more complete treatment of the sewage shall be submitted to this Department for approval; and upon approval of said plans such works for preliminary purification by screening and sedimentation shall be constructed and put in operation at such time or times thereafter as said Commissioner may designate. The plans now submitted show that it is proposed to construct a 6-inch sewer in First and New streets tributary to the existing sewer in First street which discharges into the Mohawk river through the existing outfall sewer. The proposed sewer is to be about 350 feet long and is to be constructed with a slope of 1 per cent. A manhole is to be constructed at the intersection of New and First streets and a flush tank is to be installed at the upper end of the sewer in New street. The street along the line of the sewer is to be graded to provide for a fill of about 4 feet over the sewer. As pointed out in the report on our examination of the plans for the proposed sewer in Clyne Place dated July 11, 1916, although the additional amount of sewage that will be discharged into the Mohawk river after the construction of the proposed sewer will not be great, steps should be taken to provide for at least a partial treatment of the sewage now discharged into the river in order to eliminate, as far as practicable, the gross pollution of this stream. It may be pointed out that as the result of action taken by this Department a sewer system and sewage disposal plant consisting of a screen chamber and a settling tank of the two story Imhoff type are being constructed in the village of Oriskany located about 3 miles above Whitesboro. In the village of Yorkville located about 1 mile below Whitesboro, a sewer system and a sewage disposal plant consisting of a screen chamber and plain settling tank have been constructed. In the case of Utica, located about 3 miles below Yorkville, a portion of the sewage of the city on the north side of the river is being treated and the permit recently issued to the city of Utica in connection with the approval of the plans for additional sewers in the city contained in addition to the usual revocation and modification clauses the condition that satisfactory plans for the interception and preliminary treatment of the entire sanitary sewage of the city be submitted to this Department for approval on or before May 1, 1919. In view of the above, I would recommend that plans for the proposed sewer in the village of Whitesboro be approved and a permit be issued allowing the discharge of sewage from this sewer into the Mohawk river in the town of Whitesboro on condition that on or before May 1, 1919, satisfactory detailed plans for the preliminary treatment of the sewage of the village by sedimentation be submitted for approval together with general plans for supplementary, or more complete treatment of such sewage. Respectfully submitted, ALBANY, N. Y., June 29, 1917 PERMIT THEODORE HORTON, Application having been duly made to the State Commissioner of Health, as provided by Section 77 of Chapter 49 of the Laws of 1909, the "Public Health Law," as amended by Chapter 553 of the Laws of 1911, constituting Chapter 45 of the Consolidated Laws, permission is hereby given to the Board of Trustees of the village of Whitesboro to discharge sewage from the proposed sewer extensions in First and New streets into the waters of the Mohawk river through existing outfall sewer within the town of Whitesboro in accordance with the plans accompanying the petition, under the following conditions: 1. That this permit shall be revocable at any time or subject to modification or change when in the judgment of the State Commissioner of Health such revocation, modification or change shall become necessary. 2. That the issuance of this permit shall not be deemed to affect in any way action by this Department on any future application that may be made for permission to discharge additional sewage or effluent into the waters of this State. 3. That only sanitary or domestic sewage and no storm water or surface water from streets, roofs or other areas shall be admitted to the proposed sewers. 4. That on or before May 1, 1919, satisfactory detailed plans for preliminary treatment of the entire sanitary sewage of the village of Whitesboro by sedimentation, accompanied by general plans for addition or supplementary works for more complete treatment of the sewage shall be submitted to this Department for approval; and that after approval of said plans such works for preliminary treatment of the sewage shall be constructed and put in operation whenever required by the State Commissioner of Health. M. NICOLL, JR., Acting Deputy State Commissioner of Health June 28, 1917 VOL. II-6 WINGDALE (State Prison) LINSLY R. WILLIAMS, M.D., Acting State Commissioner of Health: I beg to submit the following report on our examination of plans for sewage disposal for the proposed Wingdale prison at Wingdale, submitted to this Department for approval by the New York State Commission on New Prisons on March 8, 1917. The site for the proposed prison comprises an area of about 600 acres of land situated near the central part of the town of Dover, Dutchess county, about 70 miles north of New York city and about 1/8 mile south of the Wingdale Station on the Harlem Division of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. The railroad passes along the westerly side of the property. Although the area adjacent to the railroad is comparatively flat and partly swampy, the greater portion of the property is very hilly and rises to an elevation of some 600 feet above the railroad or about 1,000 feet above sea level. According to the data submitted with the plans, it appears that whereas locations of the buildings have not definitely been determined upon they are in general to be situated on the southwesterly portion of the property. It is stated by the report on the plans that the sewage from the greater portion of the proposed buildings will be collected and flow by gravity to a manhole to be located near the east central portion of the property and that the sewage from the buildings below this level will be pumped. The exact location or details of the design of the proposed pumping station are not included with the present plans, nor are any of the proposed buildings shown. Sewage disposal It is proposed to treat the sewage of the institution in a sewage disposal plant consisting of a screen chamber, 2 settling tanks, dosing chamber, intermittent sand filters and a chlorination plant to be located in the northwesterly portion of the property. The disposal plant has been designed to care for an ultimate future population of 2,000 and a sewage contribution of 200,000 gallons per day. The effluent from the plant is to be discharged into a small stream which rises in the northerly portion of the property and discharges into Swamp river a few hundred feet west of the outlet. Swamp river has a drainage area at this point of about 19 square miles. It has a sluggish flow opposite the property and flows in a northerly direction for a distance of about 7 miles to Ten-Mile river, which stream discharges into the Housatonic river near the hamlet of Bulls Bridge, Conn. There are no large communities on the Swamp or Ten-Mile rivers below Wingdale and we have no records of any public water supplies taken from these streams below the proposed sewage disposal plant. Screen chamber The sewage from the institution is to be conveyed through some 1,300 feet of 10-inch sewer laid on a slope of 5 per cent to the diverting chamber at the disposal plant, from which the sewage may be discharged into either or both compartments of the proposed screen chamber. Each compartment is to be about 10 feet long, 4 feet wide and about 4 feet deep, inside dimensions, and is to be provided with a bar screen composed of 14-inch by 2-inch bar screens spaced 14-inch center to center. The screen chamber is to be provided with notches in order to permit of inserting weirs if desired to measure the flow of sewage. From the screen chamber the screened effluent is to flow by gravity into the distributing troughs of the 2 proposed settling tanks. Settling tanks These tanks are of the 2-story Imhoff type. Each tank is to be divided by means of partitions into one settling compartment and 2 hopper-shaped sludge |