Frankford Intercepting System.

Source: Bureau of Surveys, City of Philadelphia, Annual Report for 1896, pages 79-81.

Frankford, one of the most populous and important portions of the City, is girdled by open streams receiving all the drainage within its own territory and suffering from (page 80) the drainage poured out from the eastern districts of Germantown. All of this sewage reaches the Delaware river through Frankford creek, which is a tidal stream, and considerable objectionable matter is carried backward and forward by the tides and left on the mud flats to decompose, and is offensive to the surroundings.

The problem of surface drainage for Frankford is simple, but the problem for the disposal of the sewage and waste of this entire northeastern section of the City is more complex, made so by the natural topography of the ground and from the depression of the streets under the various railroads at such elevations as to make the construction of outlet sewers difficult. A comprehensive plan has been completed which can be carried out so as to give the needed relief with the greatest economy. The plan comprises the intercepting of the existing sewers emptying into Little Tacony creek, north of Frankford street, and carrying the drainage to a point on the Delaware river where the current setting off shore will prevent the return of objectionable matter into Frankford creek at flood tides. By means of a separating chamber only the storm water will be allowed to flow into Frankford creek.

An additional main sewer is contemplated on the line of Torresdale avenue, which will intercept all the remaining sewers emptying into Little Tacony creek and will result in the closing of this portion of the stream. The project includes the ultimate separation and discharge of the sewage into the interceptor to be constructed along Wheat Sheaf lane. When the principal intercepting sewer on Wheat Sheaf lane and its extensions are completed it is expected that. all the sewage now flowing through Frankford creek will be intercepted and the channel of the creek maintained unpolluted for storm water drainage.

The system is expensive, but is for the relief of a large area, and a delay in making an appropriation sufficient (page 81) to begin the construction of the system will be a hardship to those who have for many years waited for the improvements.