Intercepting Sewer Systems
(A Philosophical View)

SOURCE: Bureau of Surveys Annual Report for 1910, pages 47-48

When it is considered that all over the world, and reaching back to the beginning of history, mankind has invariably chosen as a place of his abode, land accessible to a body of potable water, it seems inconceivable that with this instinctive trait, he should not have a corresponding trait, which would teach him the value of the conservation of these streams.

In the selfishness of the individual as against the community, one community against a neighboring community, present inhabitants against future inhabitants, may be seen (page 48)the reasons for allowing streams to become polluted until, becoming a present menace, action to place them, as far as practicable, in a condition approximating to their original purity, must be taken.

In this way the older communities of the world have been under the necessity of spending large sums for conservation or for the prevention of pollution, in order that the streams may continue to provide adequate water supplies for increasing populations.

In the vicinity of and within the confines of the larger American cities, the former prodigality in the abuse of its streams is giving way to conservation. The streams are being preempted for parks or preserved for future water supplies, the continuance of the practice of discharging sewage into them is forbidden by State authorities, and they are being preserved by the system of building intercepting sewers along their banks, in order to carry the drainage wastes to distant points for scientific purification and disposal before being discharged into the sea or large bodies of water, which may not become a menace from the introduction of purified wastes into them.

The condition of the streams in this City in this respect is being materially improved each year, and all plans for civic betterment give great weight to the preservation of the streams, and the purification of those which have become polluted.

Work during the last year has been carried on in a number of the larger valleys within the City, in the building or extension of intercepting sewers, which are comprised in the following list: Dobson's run, Cobb's creek, Frankford creek, Wissahickon creek, Pennypack creek and Sandy run.

[A detailed list of work undertaken follows.]