Dangerous Bacteria in Sewage Differs from Harmful Gases in ...

Dangerous Bacteria is
Sewage Differs from
Harmful Gases in Sewers

By William. C. Groeniger
1937 ASSE YearBook

The Charge Against Soil Pipes Has to carry off wastes." febrile disease, caused by a baccillus introduced
Not Been Dismissed Perhaps the least difficult way to un- into the system with the food or drinking wa-
ter, and characterized by catarrh of the intes-
The inspiration for this paper came from scramble the matter is to begin with a simple tines, enlargement and necrosis of the peyerian
reading an article which appeared in Colliers, definition of a soil pipe: glands, enlargement of the spleen, and me-
11-14-36, in which the author confuses sewer senteric glands, peculiar eruptions appearing
gas and typhoid fever with sewage and typhoid A soil pipe is any pipe which conveys the on the seventh, eighth, and ninth days con-
fever. The article is one which indicates a lack discharge of water closets, with or without the sisting of small slightly elevated rose-colored
of knowledge or a common understanding of discharges from other fixtures to the house spots, and often diarrhea.
the functions of a soil pipe. We quote in part drain.
from Colliers, 11-14-36, as follows: Reduction in Typhoid
Synonymous with the word "soil" is foul,
"It was once generally believed that dirty, begrime, bemire, besmatter, besmire, Some thirty years ago there were about
typhoid fever might be caused by sewer daub, bedaub, stain, tarnish, sully, defile, pol- 450,000 cases of typhoid fever each year, and
gas, and any soil pipe in the house was lute. "Soil" in this application means dung, an annual death toll of 45,000 from this dis-
regarded as a menace to the health of the feces, manure. ease. By 1925 the number of cases of typhoid
inmates because it might spring a leak. had dropped to 150,000 and the deaths to
But medical research has long since The true definition of a soil pipe is a pipe 15,000. This 300 per cent decrease is due
proved that infection cannot be conveyed for carrying off excrement and urine from chiefly to:
by this means. Furthermore, air ventila- places of human habitation and occupancy. (1) Safe water supplies.
tion can be provided for with perfect The function of a water closet is to receive (2) Quick and safe removal of fecal matter
safety by a vent and a trap in the soil line. bowel and kidney eliminations preliminary to
their being flushed, ejected or siphoned from through the medium of a water closet bowl.
"Nevertheless, the Briton, once con- the bowl by means of flowing water and dis- (3) Adequate sewerage systems.
vinced of the guilt of soil pipes, refused charged into the soil pipe. It should be quite (4) Elimination of the privy vault, the princi-
to believe in their innocence, even though clear by now that the inside of a soil pipe is
the charge against them had been dis- foul, and that is the reason for applying the pal breeding place of the common house fly
missed. British law still bars them from word "soil" to the word pipe. – carrier of disease germs from the privy to
inside the house. Anywhere in and about human food. Elimination of sources of
London, even on apartment and office For centuries mankind has recognized pollution of private water supplies.
buildings great ugly excrescences can be that human excreta and urine may contain
seen crawling in all directions. An Ameri- harmful bacteria (typhoid, dysentery and dis- The water closet bowl can hardly be de-
can friend of mine in England desired to eases of the intestines) and must be quickly nied its proper place of importance in the re-
install in his house an extra bathroom, and safely disposed of because they are dan- duction of typhoid fever in the United States.
which for architectural reasons had to be gerous to life and health. The practice of swatting flies and screening
in front. But no permit could be secured houses against the fly is often given full credit
unless the ugly black pipes disfigured the No matter if installed inside or outside for the reduction of typhoid fever, but to elimi-
facade. The Briton carries his prejudices of the house any soil pipe that leaks sewage nate a disease it is necessary to remove the
even into his scientific laboratories, where or sewer gas is a menace to the health of the cause.
open drains in the cement floor are built inmates.
Making filth inaccessible to the fly re-
Typhoid Fever moves his power to do harm as a carrier. In-

Typhoid fever is known as an infectious,

sects and vermin are carriers. What the fly is bear testimony to the dangers of sewer air. are suspected in sewers, a carbon monoxide
to typhoid, the louse is to typhus and the mos- Again, the odor of these gases is repugnant to indicator, a carbon monoxide detector or
quito to malaria fever. When vermin cannot human beings. carbon monoxide detector ampoules should
become infected, they cannot transport dis- be used."
ease from filth to man, or man to man. Those who have self-experience know (3) "Of the remaining sewer gases the pres-
sewer air will produce shallow breathing, head- ence of a strong odor, or irritation to the
Remove the cause and prevent the dis- ache, and even nausea. Any worker in a room eyes and respiratory passages, are generally
ease. Typhoid is a filth disease, and the quick with an open sewer connection soon recog- warning enough to indicate the need of
and safe removal of fecal matter is an act of nizes the necessity of closing the opening. thorough ventilation and chemical testing
prevention. before men enter." .
Sewer air, sewer gas, or sewer vapor may ( 4) "Atmospheres containing less than 13 per
The primary function of the soil pipe is not contain disease-producing bacteria, derived cent by volume of oxygen are considered
to convey polluted matter from the water from human excreta and body wastes, often decidedly dangerous to man."
closet to the house drain and house sewer. found in sewage. Hence, iris argued by some (5) "In emergencies, such as the saving of life,
Secondary functions are to furnish air to main- that escaping sewer air, sewer gas, or sewer instructions 1 through 4 are of course obvi-
tain atmospheric pressure and provide for air vapor has no influence on health. Clean air is ated by the use of a hose mask or self-
circulation within the pipe, and ventilate the essential to life, and the air of sewers or drains contained oxygen breathing apparatus."
sewer. should be kept from entering buildings if for
no other reason than the harmful gases which The article by Leroy W. Van Kleeck, Se-
Leaky Drainage System Insanitary may be poisonous to the human system. nior Sanitary Engineer Connecticut State De-
and Dangerous partment of Health, appearing in the August
Explosive, Poisonous or Suffocating issue of Municipal Sanitation, emphasizes the
The leakage of polluted water from the Gases in Sewers danger of persons encountering explosive,
soil pipe or house drainage system is insani- poisonous or suffocating gases in sewers,
tary and dangerous. Leakage within the build- Appearing in the August, 1937, issue, Vol. which reinforces the importance of installing
ing may pollute the habitation and permit food 8, No. 8, Municipal Sanitation, is an article permanent, tight soil pipes in buildings used
infection through the medium of insects. entitled: "Safety Equipment for Gas and for human habitation or occupancy.
Leakage in the ground outside the building Fumes" by Leroy W. Van Kleeck, Senior Sani-
may pollute water in neighboring wells or find tary Engineer, Connecticut State Department Boiler Plate
its way into or under the building. of Health.
Some thirty years ago there appeared in
The maintenance of water seals between This article emphasizes an ever-increas- the daily press boiler plate articles emphasiz-
fixtures and drains and the permanent tight- ing danger of encountering explosive, poison- ing that plumbing had no relation to health.
ness of soil pipe and drainage systems are ous or suffocating gases in sewers, and sug- These newspaper articles credited medical
important, not only because they prevent the gests tests to detect the presence of such gases science with the discovery that because sewer
passage of air, but because they prevent the should be made before men are allowed to gas did not contain bacteria and therefore
access of insects to the interior of the drains enter such structures. The article calls atten- could not convey typhoid germs it was not
and sewers. If cockroaches, water-bugs, and tion to, "explosions in public sewers have been dangerous to health. Books on public health
other vermin can pass from drains to food, experienced by almost every large city in both during that period refer to plumbing as hav-
they may transport disease germs and thus be America and Europe. Insurance records con- ing the same relation to health as walls, ceil-
a bacteriological menace to health. The open tain many cases of asphyxiation, poisoning and ings, floors, brick, plaster, and lumber. Between
sewer connection also provides a runway for physical injury from gases by men working in 1910 and 1920 it was my privilege to come in
rats. sewers or around sewage disposal structures." contact with many persons who had been
taught and firmly believed there was no rela-
Gases in Sewers Dangerous to Van Kleeck recommends a minimum tion between plumbing and health. Misinfor-
Mankind safety procedure for sewage plant operators mation of this character not only creates dis-
and sewage maintenance crews before enter- respect but gives to people false security.
The air in sewers and drains often con- ing sewer manholes, settling tanks or other
tains gases resulting from the decomposition subterranean structures connected with sew- It is unbelievable that any informed per-
of excreta, soap, fats, and other wastes, to- ers or sewage treatment plants, where the pres- son would deliberately twist the facts. To per-
gether with gases from mineral oils which may ence of gas is suspected. mit the statement quoted upon the first page
come from garages, streets, and industrial es- (1) "First determine if the concentration of to go unchallenged would be neglect of duty.
tablishments. Illuminating gas may also find On the other hand, if the statement was made
its way into sewers through leakage. Among any combustible gas, which may be present, with a false conception of the facts correc-
these gases may be found methane, is below, within, or above the explosive tion of the error is a responsibility.
sulphuretted hydrogen, and carbonic oxide. In range. For this purpose use an approved
large amounts those gases are poisonous to combustible gas indicator." It is hoped that the distinguishing features
the human system and there are physiological (2) "Having determined that no explosive or between: (1) Dangerous Bacteria in Sewage;
objections to breathing them even in small inflammable gas mixture is present, it is and (2) Harmful Gases in Soil Pipes and Sew-
quantities: Violent explosions in sewerage sys- necessary to know that no toxic gases are ers have been made clear.
tems and the loss of lives of sewer workers present, in particular carbon monoxide and
hydrogen sulphide. If illuminating gas leaks

It is certainty that typhoid fever may be
caused by sewage. Sanitary research has long
since proved that infection can he conveyed
by sewage.

Air ventilation does not remove the dan-
ger of pollution by sewage. Again, sanitary
research has long since proved that explosive,
poisonous and suffocating gases are found in
sewers.

The Briton's respect for a soil pipe was
gained from the knowledge that the soil pipe
conveys human excrement which may contain
typhoid or other harmful bacteria. The Briton
rightfully refused to believe that the soil pipe
is innocent of possible danger to health and
life. The Briton is rightfully convinced of the
guilt of soil pipes and refuses to have the
charge against them dismissed. In America we
design and install the soil pipe within the walls
of buildings but require that they be air and
water tight and of durable material.

We say "cheerio" to the Briton's insistence
that the soil pipe is the potential enemy of
mankind and must be at all times safeguarded
in order to protect persons against injury to
health.