In the ditches of these flat meadows the sewage could go through the septic process to its fullest extent as the level of the river Blackwater kept them nearly full at all times, and the supernatant liquid could spread over the coarse herbage of these meadows only in winter floods, with the result of heavy crops of hay, and sewage disposal conveniently out of sight and outside War Office jurisdiction when a Royal Engineer officer might come to inspect the Camp Farm from time to time.
British Medical Journal’s report.
But before my visit an active Medical Officer of Health (Dr. Seaton), taking an interest in the state of the river bounding his county of Surrey, detected the camp origin of the stagnant sewage, and, concluding that the meadows must form part of the Camp Farm over the road, made a serious report about “Government Sewage Marshes,” which the British Medical Journal took as a text for an article, and the Thames Conservancy attacked the War Department as soon as their 1894 Act gave them jurisdiction in the matter.
Temporary abatement of nuisance.
I was told that the Camp Farm milk and grass had been condemned, and that the tenant had consequently sold his cows and was to give up the farm on June 20, 1895; therefore my report was wanted forthwith, but it was only to take account of anything which could be done temporarily to abate nuisance, as an agreement was pending with the Aldershot District Council for the removal of the camp sewage outfall to some site, at least two miles distant from the camp, at which the District
Council was to become solely responsible for its future disposal, together with their own Aldershot town sewage, and the War Department to be rated for the purpose like any other householder.
I found the Commanding Royal Engineer then in office fully alive to the existing nuisance and prepared to support any efforts I might make to abate it. Accordingly I agreed to become manager in control of such labour and material as was necessary for immediate temporary improvement, and being supplied with army horses, and any necessary buildings, tanks, etc. to be constructed by the Royal Engineers.
1897. The War Office resolve on permanent improvement.
After about two years it became understood that the nuisance could be permanently remedied on the Camp Farm, as I had said from the first, and accordingly the draft agreement, which had then been in discussion for five years, was abandoned. I was asked to prepare a scheme and estimate for such permanent works as would enable the sewage to be effectually disposed of on the Camp Farm.
Recollecting that the sewage had to be at once cut off from Dr. Seaton’s “Sewage Marsh,” and its disposal provided for throughout on War Department land, it will be observed that the improvement work had to proceed piecemeal with some extra care and arrangement; but on the whole I am satisfied that the work has been completed with greater efficiency and economy than would have been the case if the sewage had been turned into the river and the whole site handed over to a contractor for two years in the usual course.