Issued March 1944
Washington, D. C.Revised June 1946

SEWAGE AND GARBAGE DISPOSAL
ON THE FARM

By J. W. Rockey, assistant agricultural engineer,[1] and J. W. Simons, associate agricultural engineer, Division of Farm Buildings and Rural Housing, Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research Administration

[1] The senior author prepared the preliminary draft, and the junior author completed the bulletin.

[Contents]

Page
Characteristics of sewage[1]
Protection of water sources from household wastes[2]
Septic-tank systems[2]
Operation of a septic tank system[2]
Selecting the site[4]
The house sewer[4]
The septic tank[8]
Building a concrete tank[11]
The effluent sewer[13]
The disposal field[13]
Disposal methods in tight or wet soils[14]
Care and maintenance of septic tanks[17]
Effect of drain solvents and other materials[17]
Protection against freezing[17]
Septic-tank troubles[18]
Grease traps[18]
Disposal of drainage from fixtures other than toilets[19]
Cesspools[20]
Privies[21]
Care, and maintenance[22]
Chemical closets[24]
Disposal of garbage and trash[25]

TO INSURE healthful living, domestic wastes must be disposed of. Primitive wanderers and too often present-day tourists deposit their wastes promiscuously and move on when the surroundings become foul. This is impractical in built-up communities. Therefore, in most cities and in some rural areas sanitary codes regulate the disposal of wastes.


[CHARACTERISTICS OF SEWAGE]