Sewerage in the City
Sewerage in the City
19 Jul 1853Pure water and good sewerage are among the chief contributions to the health, cleanliness, and comfort of a city population. “We: cannot say that Dublin is fortunate in the conditions that contribute to the ‘well-being of the citizens, but with all the drawbacks, Dublin still enjoys an exemption from mortality denied to cities more salubriously circumstanced. Much has “bees done within the last few years to repair tbe evils arising from the construction of our sewers, which are far too few and too small for the wants of such a population, and especially adapted to their ends from their connection with the river and the pollution which it entails. That, however, cannot at present be remedied. The expense of diverting the sewerage of the city, as suggested by engineers more romantic than practical would be far too great, with the taxation of the city at its present high point. That improvement must wait for more prosperous times, when taxes shall be less than thirty per cent, on the rated value. Meanwhile, partial improvements proceed on a tolerably extensive scale, and the officers of the Corporation are active in enlarging and maintaining the different works of the city.
From the last report of Mr. Neville to the Corporation much useful knowledge may be derived relative to works in which every citizen must feel an interest. Les us first describe the Main Severs. On the north side, and at the west of the city, the first great line of sewer is that in North Brunswick street, which passes in an easterly direction, to the Liffey through Kedcow-lane, Smithfield, and West Arran-street. The second main sewer is the Bradogue-river, which” enters the city boundary -where Grangegorman-lane meets the Circular-road. From this it flows, to the river under the Penitentiary, near the Midland railway terminus, by Bolton-street, Halston-street, and East Arrau-street. This sewer receives the drainage of a large district, extending to Blessington-street. The third main sewer, into which is discharged the sewerage of Old Dominick street and. Granby-row, is in that part of Great Britain-street between Sackville and Capel streets, and reaches the river through Jervis-st. The fourth begins in “Upper .Dorset-street, takes a long course, and is finally discharged in the river near the Royal Canal lock on the North Wall. This is the sewer, remarks Mr. Neville, which floods the Custom-house and Newfoundland district. .The fifth and only remaining chief sewer to the north is one which receives the drainage of Upper Gardiner-street, Ecclesstreet, and, running parallel with the Canal to Newcomen-bridge, is discharged into the docks. On the south side, from west to east, the Cammack drains the district round Old Kilmainham, and meets the river at the Cashel station. There are three other sewers, apparently insufficient for the large and populous district they are intended to drain;: but the chief sewer is the Poddle, which receives the sewerage of a district having a catchment area of 450 acres. The river runs uncovered for a considerable distance, but is arched over from a point near where New-row joins Dean-street. Mr. Neville reports the works to be in tolerable repair , but requiring a regular outlay each year to maintain them, as well as to cleanse the deposit which constantly accumulates. The current of the water is injuriously obstructed by several mills which impede in consequence, liable to flood after heavy rains.
The next main line rises on the west side of Harcourt street, and, passing north through Williamstreet, Wicklow-street, through College-green, near the National Bank, enters.the river by Hawkins street. This sewer receives the contents of another, which drains Stephen green, Dawson, Nassau, and Grafton streets. The last we shall describe runs in a northernly direction, by Cardiff s-lane, into the Liffey, after having drained part of Nassau and Leinster streets, and the district between Hamilton row and the river. This sewer is joined by two others which drain the large district between the east of Stephen’s-green and the Grand Canal from Leeson street to Macquay-bridge. The large-size sewers are generally in good order, but all have more or less suffered from want of cleansing, neglect, and particularly from the careless manner in which branches and openings for house drains have been made into them, The inferior class of sewers, marked (S) by Mr. Neville, are described as in a very bad state, and the majority must be ultimately rebuilt. The levels are also very defective in many cases, even in some of the first class, built within a few years. Mr. Neville proposes a plan for the general improvement and extension of the city sewerage 1st. To construct two lines of big level sewers one on the north and the other on the south of the Liffey to relieve the districts at present liable to flood. – 2d. To construct new sewers in all streets and avenues where there are none at present, or where they are insufficient in size, or laid out on wrong levels—by such means extending over the city a uniform system of sewerage. July. As a necessity involved in the foregoing improvements two great trunk sewers, one on each side of the Liffey, to receive all the sewerage and convey it to the most easterly point. “Let us now look at the expense. Mr. Neville calculates that twenty-four and a half miles,\or 43,207 lineal yards, of new sewerage will be necessary for the north side district—cost £41,530. To this must be added .£3,691 in repairing nearly four miles of existing drains. Total for north district, £45,221. – ‘…-For the south district, 35,481 yards, or a little over twenty miles, will be necessary, at an estimated cost of £31,907, to which add £2,901 for repairs of existing sewers. Total £34,808. … For north side sewer district – … £45,221 – ” South side ditto … – … … 34,808
Total for the whole city … £80,029 From this, however, should be deducted a sum of £5,682 ordered to be “laid out this year by the Council in improvements, which are included in Mr. Neville’s general plan;—-thus’ reducing the amount to £74,348!
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