Transcriber Note Text emphasis denoted by _Italics_ and =Bold=. Whole and fractional parts of numbers as 123-4/5. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FARMERS' BULLETIN No. 1227 SEWAGE AND SEWERAGE OF FARM HOMES DISPOSAL OF FARM SEWAGE in a clean manner is always an important problem. The aims of this bulletin are twofold--(1) to emphasize basic principles of sanitation; (2) to give directions for constructing and operating home sewerage works that shall be simple, serviceable, and safe. Care in operating is absolutely necessary. No installation will run itself. Continued neglect ends in failure of even the best-designed, best-built plants. If the householder is to build and neglect, he might as well save expense and continue the earlier practice. Washington, D. C. Issued January, 1922 Revised October, 1928 SEWAGE AND SEWERAGE OF FARM HOMES George M. Warren, Hydraulic Engineer, Bureau of Public Roads CONTENTS Page Introduction 1 Sewage, sewers, and sewerage defined 1 Nature and quantity of sewage 2 Sewage-borne diseases and their avoidance 2 How sewage decomposes 5 Importance of air in treatment of sewage 7 Practical utilities 8 Septic tanks 21 Grease traps 43 General procedure 45 INTRODUCTION The main purpose of home sewerage works is to get rid of sewage in such way as (1) to guard against the transmission of disease germs through drinking water, flies, or other means; (2) to avoid creating nuisance. What is the best method and what the best outfit are questions not to be answered offhand from afar. A treatment that is a success in one location may be a failure in another. In every instance decision should be based upon field data and full knowledge of the local needs and conditions. An installation planned from assumed conditions may work harm. The householder may be misled as to the purification and rely on a protection that is not real. He may anticipate little or no odor and find a nuisance has been created. SEWAGE, SEWERS, AND SEWERAGE DEFINED