Historic Pelham

Presenting the rich history of Pelham, NY in Westchester County: current historical research, descriptions of how to research Pelham history online and genealogy discussions of Pelham families.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Report of Investigation of Pelham Sewage Disposal Plant Prepared in 1921


In the early 20th century, as the population of Pelham continued to grow, the Town of Pelham struggled to ensure its residents had the basics -- clean water, sewage disposal, adequate housing, and more.  Among the most difficult problems faced by the Town was the proper treatment and disposal of sewage.

The Town constructed a sewage disposal plant on the eastern bank of the Hutchinson River in an area near today's "Glover Field" (which once was known, as a consequence, as "Stink Field").  An investigation by State authorities in 1921, however, concluded that the plant was not being maintained or run properly.  The report, which provides an interesting glimpse into the mechanisms for sewage disposal at the outset of the Roaring '20s, is transcribed below, followed by a citation to its source.

"PELHAM

An investigation was made by Mr. A. I. Howd of this Department on June 1, 1921, of the sewage disposal plant of the town of Pelham, Westchester county. N. Y.

The town of Pelham is situated in the southcentral part of Westchester county a short distance north of New York city between the city of Mount Vernon on the west and the city of New Rochelle on the east. The incorporated villages of Pelham, North Pelham and Pelham Manor comprise the town. They are provided with a water supply furnished principally by the New Rochelle Water Company, practically all of the residents being supplied. The town has a population of about 5,000.

The sewage disposal plant for the town is located in the village of Pelham Manor on the east side of the Hutchinson river. The disposal works consist of a screen and grit chamber, settling tanks, pumping plant, dosing tank and sprinkling filters. Previous inspections of the operation of the plant have been made by this Division in 1914 and 1918.

The whole of the village of Pelham and all of North Pelham are served by sewer systems tributary to the Pelham sewage disposal plant except a small area of about 30 acres, comprising about one-tenth of the area of North Pelham, the sewage from which is discharged into the Mount Vernon sewer system. The sewage from a small area in the southern part of Pelham Manor is discharged into a series of so-called liquefying tanks, the effluent from which is discharged into Long Island sound. The sewage from about 35 per cent of the area of the village of Pelham Manor flows by gravity to a pumping station, known as the Mt. Tom pumping station, from which it is pumped through 2,000 feet of force main to a point on Pelhamdale [Page 309 / Page 310] avenue where it empties into a sewer which carries it by gravity to the Pelham sewage disposal plant. The remainder of the village is served by a gravity system which conducts the sewage to the main sewage disposal plant.

The sewage from the different sections of the town flows through three main trunk sewers to a manhole outside the sewage disposal plant. There is a by-pass from this manhole through which r:aw sewage may be discharged direct into the creek. The by-pass is provided with a valve which will prevent sewage being discharged into the creek except at the discretion of the operator of the plant, but which does not prevent water from the creek backing up into the sewage disposal plant at times of high water.

The sewage enters the disposal plant through a screen and grit chamber located under the floor of a building which also houses the settling tanks, pumping plant and dosing chambers. The screens, which are of the bar type, were so clogged at the time of the inspection that the sewage was running over the top of the screens. It was learned from the attendant at the plant that the screens had not been cleaned for a considerable time and that the grit chamber was cleaned about two months previous to the inspection. According to the attendant, the grit chamber is cleaned about every three months, the cleanings being buried near the plant. The clogging of the screens caused the sewage to back up in the sewers approaching the plant, a manhole 300 or 400 feet from the plant being virtually filled' with sewage.

The settling tanks are divided into four units, the two northerly units being in operation at the time of the inspection. The capacity of the two units is about 78,600 gallons which provides 'an average detention period for the sewage of about 2 hours. These units had been in continuous use for about two months. A considerable portion of the sewage in the tanks was covered with a thick, crusted brown scum. The tanks not in use were filled with water. The sludge is emptied from the tanks from time to time and was said by the attendant to be buried in the ground near the plant.

The dosing tanks and automatic siphons were not operating properly at the time of the inspection. The dosing tanks were not emptied in rotation and the periods of dosing and resting of the filters were irregular.
Observations were made about noon which indicated at that time that Bed No. 1 was being dosed for a period of about one minute and was resting for about two minutes between doses. Bed No. 3 was being dosed for periods ranging from 15 seconds to 1 minute 20 seconds and was resting from 1 minute 45 seconds to 2 minutes 40 seconds. Bed No. 2 was not dosed during the observations. Later in the afternoon observations were continued. Bed No. 2 dosed for 5-1/2 minutes evidently for the first time in several hours. About one-half hour later Bed No. 3 was dosed for 6-1/4 minutes and near the end of the dose Bed No. 1 began to dose and was dosed for nearly 9 minutes. The beds were not dosed again during the remainder of the observations, Bed No. 2 having rested for an hour.

The sprinkling filters were being operated at an average rate of about 1,670,000 gallons per acre per day. It appeared at the time of the inspection that the center unit was operating considerably below this rate and the other two units considerably in excess of this rate. Several of the sprinkler nozzles in the center unit were clogged and in need of cleaning.

The effluent from the sprinkling filters was somewhat cloudy but apparently free from large particles of suspended matter. The stream into which the sewage is discharged is grossly polluted and the black muck on the banks of the creek presents a very unsightly appearance at low tide.

It was evident at the time of the inspection that the sewers were receiving excessive amounts of ground water and probably large quantities of storm water. This condition was plainly noticeable at a manhole on Pelhamdale avenue where sewage empties from the force main from the Mt. Tom pumping station into the gravity system. The sewage was quite clear and at the time free from any large particles.

It was impossible at the time of the inspection to make satisfactory observations as to the distance from the plant at which odors might be [Page 309 / Page 310] detected. While the inspection was being made at the plant, the wind was in the east carrying any odors that might arise across the river toward Mount Vernon. An attempt was made during the afternoon to observe odors from the Mount Vernon shore but before any satisfactory observation was made the wind shifted to the west.

It is evident as a result of the inspection that the sewage disposal plant of the town of Pelham is not being satisfactorily operated and several conditions should be immediately remedied.

The by-pass to the river from the manhole on the main sewer leading to the plant and located just outside the main building, should be removed or satisfactorily sealed. Its existence and use defeats the purpose for which the sewage disposal plant was constructed and is being operated, and furthermore, the discharge of raw sewage into the Hutchinson river through this by-pass is a violation of the public health law. This Department has recommended a number of times in the past that this by-pass be removed or sealed.

The screens in the screen and grit chamber should be cleaned several times a day or as often as is necessary to prevent sewage flowing over screens and so that they may be used for the purpose for which they were intended. The screenings should be removed and disposed of in a satisfactory sanitary manner. Under no condition should the screenings be pushed or discharged into the channel leading to the settling tank or be discharged into the Hutchinson river.

The discharge of sewage from the pumps into the dosing tanks should be more evenly regulated. It appeared at the time of the inspection that the middle dosing chamber received less sewage than the other chambers, since the middle sprinkling filter unit discharged less often than the end filter units. This lack of uniformity of distribution of sewage to the dosing tanks might possibly be corrected by increasing or decreasing the size of the openings from the distribution channel to the various dosing tanks.

The siphons, particularly those serving Bed No. 1 and Bed No. 3, should be overhauled and put in a proper operating condition so that all the sewage in the dosing tank shall be discharged in one dose and not allowed to dribble intermittently for several minutes.

In a report dated July 23, 1921, the following recommendations were made:

1. That the by-pass allowing raw sewage to pass directly to the Hutchinson river be entirely sealed up or removed and if any overflow is deemed necessary, that an overflow be provided for the effluent from the settling tanks to be used only in case of emergency such as the breaking down of the pumps.

2. That the screens be cleaned regularly and as often as may be necessary to prevent their clogging.

3. That provision be made for the disposal of the screenings in a sanitary manner.

4. That the openings in the distribution channel discharging settling tank effluent into the dosing chamber be so modified that uniform distribution of the settling tank effluent over the sprinkling filters may be effected.

5. That the clogged sprinkling filter nozzles or risers be cleaned.

6. That a competent sanitary engineer be employed to design and prepare plans for a sludge drying bed for the proper disposal of sludge from the plant.

7. That the town authorities in charge of the sewage disposal plant employ a competent sanitary engineer to have charge of the operation and maintenance of the sewage disposal plant.

8. That the town authorities provide for a comprehensive survey of the town to determine from what sources water from catch basins, drains, or roof leaders may enter the sewer system and require the immediate disconnection of all such sources.

Copies of the report were sent to the local boards of health of the town of Pelham and the village of Pelham Manor, to the sanitary supervisor of the district and to the board of sewer commissioners of Pelham."

Source:  State of New York - Forty-Second Annual Report of the State Department of Health for the Year Ending December 31, 1921, Vol. I, pp. 308-10 (Albany, NY:  B. Lyon Company, 1922) (Legislative Document (1922), No. 27).

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Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Exchange of Correspondence with State Department of Health in 1907 Regarding Sewage Pollution of Hutchinson River


In 1907, the State Department of Health directed Mount Vernon, the Village of Pelham Manor and the Village of Pelham to stop dumping untreated, raw sewage into the waters of the Hutchinson River. There followed an exchange of correspondence among the three municipalities and the Department. Below are transcriptions of the letters relating to the Village of Pelham Manor and the Village of Pelham and a citation to their source.

"ALBANY, N. Y., November 14, 1907.

President of the Village, Pelham, N. Y.:

DEAR SIR: -- Complaints have been made to this Department with reference to the pollution of the Hutchinson canal. [Page 548 / Page 549]

A thorough investigation has been made by this Department and I am advised that the sewage of several hundred persons in your village is discharged into the Hutchinson river, and it does not appear that any plans for these sewers were ever approved by the Department as required by provisions of the Public Health Law.

I therefore bring this matter to your attention and urge that you give it your careful consideration. The Department is taking up with the city of Mount Vernon and the village of Pelham Manor the question of the proper disposal of their sewage and I urge that you give this matter your immediate and careful consideration.

Failing to receive assurances that proper disposition will be made of your sewage and that steps have been taken to see that the necessary plans required are approved by this Department, I shall feel it my duty to take such steps as I can legally for the enforcement of such provisions of the Public Health Law as may apply hereto, and to secure better conditions than at present exist.

Your attention is called to the provisions of the Public Health Law regarding the matter of the discharge of sewage, approval of sewer plans, etc., and I shall be glad to hear from you with reference to this matter with as little delay as possible.

Very respectfully,
EUGENE H. PORTER,
Commissioner of Health

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PELHAM, N. Y., November 29, 1907.

DR. EUGENE H. PORTER, Commissioner, New York State Department of Health, Albany, N. Y.:

DEAR SIR. -- I am in receipt of your favor of the 14th inst. relative to the sewer plans and sewage disposal of the village of Pelham.

Regarding the former -- all the sewers in this village were constructed by private parties (Mr. B. F. Corlies and the Pel- [Page 549 / Page 550] ham Heights Company) about twelve years ago and all the streets in which they are located were at the time owned and controlled by these parties. Within the past year Mr. Corlies dedicated his streets to the village but the balance of the streets (over 75 per cent.) still remain the property of the Pelham Heights Company and over which the village officials have not control.

As you can readily appreciate the authorities are placed in a rather peculiar position as regards the sewage question in this village but I can assure you the officials will willingly co-operate with your board as far as their jurisdiction extends. I understand that communications have been received by the villages of Pelham Manor and North Pelham relative to this matter and I would, therefore, suggest, that a representative of your board meet in joint conference with the boards of trustees of the villages of Pelham, Pelham Manor and North Pelham in order that the recommendations and requirements of your board may be more fully explained.

Awaiting you [sic] reply, I am,

Very respectfully,
S.L. JACQUES,
President

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ALBANY, N. Y. ,December 9, 1907.

Mr. S. L. JACQUES, President of the Village, Pelham, Westchester county, N. Y.:

DEAR SIR: -- I am in receipt of your communication of recent date with reference to the sewers in your village.

I note that these sewers were constructed by private parties and that a few of them have been turned over to the village, but over 75 per cent, remain the property of the Pelham Heights Company.

That being the case I wish to take up, without delay, this apparent violation of the law by this company and wish you would kindly give me the names of the officers of the company and I will communicate with them directly. [Page 550 / Page 551]

A little later on I will endeavor to arrange to meet the officers of your village and Pelham, Pelham Manor and North Pelham, and go into this matter more in detail.

Very respectfully,
EUGENE H. PORTER,
Commissioner of Health

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ALBANY, N. Y., November 14, 1907.

President of the Village, Pelham Manor, N. Y.:

DEAR SIR: -- Recently complaints have been made to this Department with reference to the pollution of the Hutchinson canal by the sewage from the city of Mount Vernon and the village of Pelham Manor.

A thorough investigation of the situation has been made by the Department and I have before me a detailed report showing the exact situation with reference to the discharge of sewage from the municipalities mentioned.

It appears that a public nuisance is created by the discharge, without purification, of the sewage from the city of Mount Vernon and the villages of Pelham and Pelham Manor, intot the waters of the Hutchinson river. Your attention is called to the fact that at the time of the approval of the plans for the sewer system in your village plans for a sewage disposal plant were also approved, which has never been constructed, and no permit has ever been issued for the discharge of raw sewage into the Hutchinson canal by your village, nor was such discharge contemplated at the time of the approval of the plans. I have taken this matter up with the city of Mount Vernon and the other municipality involved, and wish to urge upon you a prompt and careful consideration of the matter of the future disposal of the sewage of your village.

I will be glad to arrange to meet the officials of your village to discuss this matter if you so desire. As the matter is one which cannot be longer delayed, failing to receive satisfactory assurances that the necessary steps will be taken at once to provide for the proper disposal of the sewage of your village, I shall [Page 551 / Page 552] feel it my duty to take such steps as I can legally for the enforcement of such provisions of the Public Health Law as may apply hereto, and to secure better conditions than at present exist.

Very respectfully,
EUGENE H. PORTER,
Commissioner of Health

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PELHAM MANOR, N. Y., November 22, 1907.

DR. EUGENE H. PORTER, State Commissioner of Health, Albany, N. Y.:

DEAR SIR: -- Mr. C. H. Pond, president of the village, asks me to acknowledge for him receipt of your letter of the 14th inst. about sewage discharge, and to say that the board of trustees would be pleased to meet you or your representative at such time as you find convenient; please give him two or three days' notice.

Yours respectfully,

HENRY N. BABCOCK,
Village Clerk"

Source: Twenty-Eighth Annual Report of the State Department of Health of New York for the Year Ending December 31, 1907, Vol. II, pp. 548-52 (Albany, NY: J. B. Lyon Company, State Printers, 1908).

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