Practical suggestions by Mr. Rogers Field, M. Inst. C.E., as to water supply, drainage, and sewage disposal for lunatic asylums / issued by the Commissioners in Lunacy.

  • Field, Rogers.
Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Practical suggestions by Mr. Rogers Field, M. Inst. C.E., as to water supply, drainage, and sewage disposal for lunatic asylums / issued by the Commissioners in Lunacy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Water appli¬ ances and fittings. Disposal of sewage must be considered before design iug drainage. Separate system of rainwater drains. portant points may very briefly be alluded to. The engine and pumps for raising water, especially in the case of deep wells, should be in duplicate, otherwise a break down may leave the asylum without water. The water supply arrangements should be designed so that the quantity of water supplied can be measured. Filters of any kind to purify water must be arranged so that they can be regularly cleansed, or they will become pollutors Service reservoirs should be covered, but be fully ventilated. The overflow pipes for reservoirs or tanks must not join any sewage drain, but should discharge with an open end on to the suface of the ground, or into an open ditch. Cast-iron pipes, coated at the foundry with Dr. Angus Smith’s composition, should be used for the mains. Water-pipes must be laid at a sufficient depth below the ground to secure them against frost, say not less than 2 feet. (19.) Water-closet cisterns should be quite distinct from cisterns supplying drinking water, or those supplying sinks, baths, and lavatories. Drinking water cisterns should be con¬ structed of slate or iron, rot of lead. They should be situated in carefully selected places, well lighted and easy of access, and should have movable match-board covers, and be protected from frost if in exposed positions, The overflow pipes of all cisterns should discharge through an outer wall into the open air. If the building is supplied direct from a high pressure main, it is best to have the taps which are or may be used for drinking water, connected directly with the main. All water pipes should be fixed on the face of the walls or in open chases, so as to be easily accessible, and when exposed to frost should be wrapped with slag-wool and cased. Stop cocks should be provided on all the principal lines and branches. Common plug draw-off taps should not be used, but those of the screw down principle, or self closing spring taps. Drainage. (20.) Before designing a system of drainage the question of the disposal of the sewage should be considered, not only because it is essential to provide for the proper disposal of the sewage, but also because the particular arrangements adopted for the disposal may largely ^fect the design of the entire scheme, especially as regards the levels and directions of the drains, As explained in the Commissioners suggestions and instructions about sites, a position should if possible be chosen for the Asylum sufficiently elevated to admit of the application of the sewage on land by gravitation. Some information with reference to this question will be found under the head of sewage disposal, page (15). (21.) It is generally desirable to divert the rainwater, at any rate for the most part, from the sewage drains, and for this purpose to have a separate system of rainwater drains. In most cases it is advantageous to collect the rainwater in tanks for use