State Library of Massachusetts State House, Boston COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS South Essex Sewerage District Salem, Mass. THIRTY-THIRD REPORT COVERING THE YEAR 1958 PEABODY, MASSACHUSETTS PAGE & GOODWIN PRINTING COMPANY 1959 COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS South Essex Sewerage District Salem, Mass. THIRTY.THIRD REPORT COVERING THE YEAR 1958 THE SOUTH ESSEX SEWERAGE BOARD JOSEPH C. TOMASELLO, Chairman CLIFTON R. GRINNELL f r a n k j. M cCa r t h y Representative Commissioner of Public Works Town of Danvers, Mass. Peabody, Mass. GORDON T. RICHARDSON NEAL B. M ITCHELL Commissioner of Public Works City Engineer Beverly, Mass. Salem, Mass. C. IAIEJ UCRM tY OF MASSACHUSETTS JUN 25 1959 MASS OFFICIAL* ‘STS*? J 9 5 S r c- J Salem, Massachusetts, December 31, 1958. To The Governor of the Commonwealth, the County Commissioners of Essex County, the Mayor of Beverly, the Mayor of Peabody, the Mayor of Salem, and the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Danvers. G en tlem en : The South Essex Sewerage Board, created by and organized under Chapter 339 of the acts of the year 1925, herewith submits its thirty-third annual report, covering the year 1958. Again this year, there were two statutory changes affecting the District. Chapter 145, a Veteran’s Pension Act, was passed, and became effective on August 26, 1958. Chapter 216, which was a bill providing for the reim­ bursement of the cities of Peabody and Salem for certain unexpended construction monies, was enacted on March 31, 1958. There were several changes in the personnel of the Board this year. In January, Mr. Gordon T. Richardson* who was appointed Commissioner of Public Works in the city of Beverly, became a member of the Board, replacing Mr. Roger F. Duwart. In July, Mr. Clifton R. Grinnell, Town Engineer of Danvers, was appointed to the Board by the Town Manager, replacing Mr. Paul H. Moore. In September, Mr. Joseph C. Tomasello was appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth as Chairman of the Board, succeeding Mr. Wilfred Chagnon. In December, Mr. Neal B. Mitchell became a member of the Board upon his appointment as City Engineer of the city of Salem, replacing Mr. Edgar W. Nickerson. CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM • As reported last year, a bill was filed with the Legis­ lature to enable the Board to disburse an unexpended balance of construction monies to the cities of Peabody and Salem. This bill was passed, as noted above, and the money was so disbursed, as shown in the table in the Treasurer’s report, attached hereto. MAINTENANCE SEWERS Danvers and Beverly Trunk Sewer The connecting branches of this sewer for the various State and County institutions in Danvers and Middleton, which are maintained by the institutions, as prescribed in section 14 of Chapter 339, acts of 1925, have been maintained in proper condition. Again this year, a tannery in Danvers, namely, the Creese and Cook Company, has continued to discharge wastes in violation of the Board’s regulations. Heavy caustic lime wastes from this plant have now commenced to form scale in the sewers. This will gradually impede the flow of sewage and cause serious damage to this sewer. Therefore, in February, Mr. James E. Farley, attorney for the Board, was authorized to proceed with legal action, ?-nd in M ay, a bill in equity w as filed in the Supreme Judicial Court, to effect compliance by this company with the Board’s regulations. Shortly after this, the Creese and Cook Company submitted a letter challenging the legality of these regulations. This challenge was appealed by the Board to the State Department of Public Health, according to the statute, and a hearing was called by this department. Later, on July 25th, the Creese and Cook Company withdrew their challenge. A letter was then received from the State Department of Public Health stating that the regulations affecting this matter were just and suitable. However, for the remainder of the year, this company continued to discharge caustic lime, and they were given an ultimatum toward the end of the year to proceed with certain schemes to remedy this situation. Peabody and Salem Trunk Sewer Again this year, sewer cleaning operations were carried out over the entire length of this sewer. A large amount of grease accumulated at both grease and grit chambers, and heavy solids that settled out in this sewer were drag­ ged to these chambers for removal. As was predicted, a large amount of grease and solids accumulated from time to time at the new 60 inch syphon in this sewer which is under the Boston & Maine railroad tracks where the recent city of Salem tunnel project affected this sewer 4 GREASE AND GRIT CHAMBERS Grease and heavy solids have been removed from the Grease and Grit chamber near the Salem pumping station, periodically, throughout the year. Cleaning operations in the Salem trunk sewer bring these materials to the grease and grit plant for easy removal. The amount of grease removed this year at this plant is estimated at 732 tons, and the amount of heavy solids is estimated at 665 cubic yards. Grease and heavy solids have also been removed from the Grease and Grit Chamber near the Salem and Peabody boundary line, periodically, throughout the year. Clean­ ing operations in the Peabody trunk sewer bring these materials to this Grease and Grit Chamber for easy re­ moval. The amount of grease removed this year is esti­ mated at 1,297 tons, and the amount of heavy solids is estimated at 3,466 cubic yards. This makes an estimated total of 2,029 tons of grease, and 4,131 cubic yards of heavy solids removed from the two plants. At the Peabody-Salem grease plant, a break occurred in the 4-inch water line supplying the plant. This was repaired by the District’s forces. FORCE MAINS The force main from the Beverly pumping station to the junction at Salem Willows, and the force main from the Salem pumping station to the outfall sewer, both functioned without incident throughout the year. OUTFALL The dredging of Salem Harbor, which has been pend­ ing for the past three years, was not done again this year. It is expected that this will be done in the near future when Federal Legislation authorizes this work. The channel across the outfall sewer, it is now under­ stood, will be dredged to a depth of 32 feet at mean low water, which will not require any changes in the 54-inch outfall. However, late in the year, a meeting was 'held at the Salem City Hall by all parties interested, to re­ discuss the features of this work; and during the summer months, the Army Engineering Corps removed Mann Rock, which was adjacent to the outfall sewer line. 5 PUMPING STATIONS Danvers Pumping Station This pumping station again operated well throughout the year, one pump handling the flow practically all of the time. On two occasions, in January and in March, power failures occurred. The January failure occurred at night, and as this station is unattended at night, the pump room became flooded before anyone was aware of it. This required a cleanup job in the pump room. Beverly Pumping Station At this pumping station, a new pump and motor, which were ordered late last year to replace the smaller unit, were delivered and installed early this year. Incidental to this work were some changes in the switchboard, including a new bank of resistors to give us suitable speed regulation. An automatic gas heating unit was installed also. Salem Pumping Station This pumping station operated well throughout the year, the only maintenance required being periodical ins­ pections of the switchboard. Power costs throughout the year were again very economical. In May, the power company changed the primary voltage from 23-00 to 4160 volts. RAINFALL The total rainfall for the year, which is measured daily by the District forces in a gauge maintained for the State Department of Public Health near the office building, was 46.17 inches. This amount is well above the average, land it is noted that an especially wet year was experienced throughout this locality. The greatest monthly precipi­ tation of 8.04 inches occurred in January, and the greatest daily precipitation of 1.92 inches occurred on January 7th. SEWAGE FLOW MEASUREMENTS The flow of sewage for the respective institutions and municipalities comprising the District has been measured during the year as usual. All of the Venturi meters have been regularly inspected and maintained in proper con- 6 dition. The amount of sewage measured at Nichols Street was apportioned to the institutions in proportion to their respective measured water consumption tributary to the sewer. The following table shows the amount of sewage flow for all the members of the District for 1958, together with the valuations of the cities, town, and institutions, as fur­ nished by the Commissioner of Corporations and Taxation, which were used in making the annual apportionment of maintenance costs, in accordance with section 1, Chapter 22, of the acts of 1929. 7 Average Normal Daily Sewage Valuations Flow for 1958 1958 (Gallons per day) Commonwealth of Mass., Dept, of Mental Health (Danvers State Hospital) 401,027 $ 14,350,000. Essex County Tuberculosis H ospital 120,079 4,600,000. Essex County Industrial Farm 6,055 80,000. Essex County Agricultural School 8,839 900,000. Town of Danvers 1,498,000 65,000,000. City of Beverly 5,351,000 138,000,000. City of Peabody 7,818,000 111,500,000. City of Salem 6,228,000 174,500,000.