PROGRAM Dedication of the Galesburg Sanitary District Treatment Plant Thursday, June 22, 1933 A. ©, Lindsteum, President of the Board, presiding, Tnvocatio a—Rev. Father J. A Phelan. An A sciation—Fred R Jelliff, Editor Daily Reg: ster-Mail Public Attitude for Better Health—judge Riley E. Address—Dr. John L. Conger, Depart. nt of History College. ined Political Science, Knox Rev. P, A, Johnson Inspection of Plant— ae THE GALESBURG SANITARY DISTRICT, GALESBURG, ILLINOIS Description of Sewage Treatment Plant, Intercepting Sewers, and Channel Improvement for Flood Relief Trustees ANDREW 0. LINDSTRUM-~-.-- PRESIDENT VERN E. CARTER- D. B. SWANSON--.. ALDEN M, ROSE WOOLSEY, STICKNEY & LUCAS.__ATT'YS ALVORD, BURDICK & HOWSON ENGINEERS:History The Galesburg Sanitary District was authorized at an election held November 4, 1924, Included within the boun- daries of the District is the City of Galesburg and about six square miles of adjacent territory, the total area being ap- proximately 18 square miles. (Boundaries shown in Fig- ure 1). Tt is interesting to note here that the problem con fronting the Board was of long standing. On April 30, 1858, the first complaint was registered against the foul condition of Cedar Fork Creek which even at that early date, was used as an outlet for raw sewage from the City of Galesburg. On November 22, 1924, the first Board members were appointed by the County Judge. The Board organized on December 8, 1924, with the following officers: L. Wein- berg, President, J. E. Potter, Vice President, D. B. Swan- son, Clerk. Andrew O. Lindstrum was appointed Novem- ber 25, 1927 in place of L. Weinberg and elected President Decemper 6, 1927. The other members of the Board were re-elected to their offices on the same date. Vern E. Carter wes appointed on January 6, 1928 Vice J. E. Potter re- signed, and elected Vice President January 10, 1928. Since 1928, the personnel of the Board has been con- tinued unchanged to the present date with Andrew O. Lindsirum, President, Vern E, Carter, Vice President, and D.B. Swanson, Clerk. Alden M. Rose was appointed Treas- urer on May 7, 1925 and has continued to fill this offic: Woolsey & Lucas were Attorneys for the Board from its ception to December 6, 1927 and since this date, Woolsey, Stickney & Lucas have been Attorneys for the Board Alvord, Burdick & Howson were appointed Engineers for the Sanitary Distriet on April 4, 1928 and in July, 1928, submitted a report recommending the construction of @ sewage treatment plant, channel improvement consisting of enlargements, straightening and paving certain portions of the channel of Cedar Fork and the construction of inter- cepting sewers to deliver all sewage to the treatment plant, ‘The recommendations embodied in the report were ac- cepted by the Board and the Engineers were authorized on July 8, 1928 to prepare plans and specifications. On July 2, 1928, a special election was held and a bond issue of $650,000 was authorized. In addition to the money obtained trom the sale of bonds and tax collections, the A T. & 8. F. RR. contributed $200,000 and such railroad rights-of-way as were required for channel improvement and the C. B. & Q.R.R. built the culvert under its Riobranch, which was estimated to cost $51,000. In addition, these railroads are large tax payers in the Sanitary Distriet. Without the contributions from the railroad companies, the extensive improvements completed to date would have been materially curtailed, A description of the work completed to date is given in the following pages and these with future improvements contemplated, are shown on Figure 1 TREATMENT PLANT BUILDING Sewage Treatment Plant. ‘The sewage treatment plant is located two miles downstream from the center of the city and consists of mechanically raked sereens, grit chamber, mechanically cleaned settling tanks, sludge digestion tanks, sprinkling filters and sludge beds. (Fig. 2) It is designed for 1940 conditions when the estimated population will be 35,000 and the dry weather flow will average 2,800,000 gallons per day. For about three or four months of Use year, the flow will be 5,500,000 gallons per day. ‘This is during the wet season when the infiltration approximately equals the dry weather flow. Sewage flowing to the plant first passes through thesereen house where the mechanically raked screen is locat- ed. Here all floating material of any appreciable size is removed by the coarse screens, which have clear openings of one inch, The screens serve two purposes in that any material that might damage the pumps is removed and also other material is retained on the sereens that might clog jipes and interfere with the operation of the plant. All or part of the flow can be bypassed at the screen house. After passing the sereen, the sewage flows to 2 conerete conduit underneath the floor of the pump room. Here the sewage is pumpd to the grit chamber by one of three sewage pumps and then flows by gravity through the rest of the plant. ‘The grit chamber consists of a Dorr traction type de- tritor, grit remover and classifier. The period is one min- ute alter which the sewage flows to the two primary set thing tanks, ‘The settling tanks are 55 fect in diameter by 12 feet six inches in depth. The settling period will average ap- proximately three hours. These tanks are equipped with Clarifier mechanisms of the Dorr traction type. From the settling tanks, the sewage flows by gravity to the dosing tanks and sprinkling filter. ‘The effluent from the sprink- ling filter is discharged into Cedar Fork Creek below the plant. The sprinkling filter contains six feet of stone. The lower five feet of stone is of such a size that it will pass a 2 inch screen and be retained on a 11g inch sereen, the top foot passing a LY inch sereen and retained on a 1 inch screen. ‘The distribution system is of cast iron, both later- als and risers, Nozzles are spaced 15 feet 91% inches on centers, Design is based upon 3,000 persons per acre per foot of stone or 18,000 persons per acre. ‘The underdrain system is of vitrified tile blocks designed by the Wm. B. Dee Company and is known as the Dee bottom. Tt consists of vitrified blocks containing two cylindrical flow passages abou: four inches in diameter. The sewage enters these blocks through concinuous slots in the top %%4 ineh in width. "The blocks are grouted in place on the conerete floor of the filter, The plant design provides for two 1 acre stone beds of which but one has been constructed, the other being de- ferred on account of insufficient funds, A secondary set- tling tank will also he built at a later date. Adiacent to the two primary settling tanks on the south, are three sludge digestion tanks. The tanks are 35 feot square and 17 feet deep, Sludge storage is provided in the amount of one and three fourths eubie feet per capita. Hachsure Work Completed and ut ‘The Galesburg Sanilary Distlet Showingtank is provided with a sludge stirring device and equipped with a dome for gas collection, Gas meters are attached to each tank to measure the gas production so that an ac- curate record is kept of the Performance of each tank, After passing tho gas meters, the gas is piped through a main ges header to the boilers where it is used as fuel for heating the plant and also in keeping the sludge digestion tanks at a uniform temperature. Pipe coil radiation is pro- jed in each of the sludge digestion tanks. Sludge piping is so arranged that sludge can be pumped from either pri- mary settling tank to any sludge tank or sludge may be pumped from any sludge digestion tank to either of the oth- er tyro tanks. After the sludge is digested or ripened sufficiently, it is drained from the tanks by gravity to the sludge drying beds. There are six beds each 40 by 100 feet, the equiva- ont of 2-3 sq. ft. per capita in 1940, A narrow gage rail- way with stecl dump cars is used for removing the dried sludge. ‘The beds are partitioned off by creosoted wood planks set in conerete posts. ‘Three sewage pumps are installed at the present time and space is provided for a fourth unit when needed. The pumps are Yeomans Company nonclogging type of sewage pump with capacities of four million gallons for one unit and six million gallons each for the other two. Total oper- ating head is B5 feet, The pumps are operated by automatic controls. Sep- arate float pipes cut each pump into service when the water in the cuction conduit reaches a certain level. Protection devices prevent pumps from operating unless fully primed The priming pump operates automatically through switches connected to the float pipes. Protection against overload and low voltage is also provided. Operation may be mun- ual through push bution control if desired In addition to the treatment, part of the plant, there is an offiee, laboratory, switchboard room, boiler room, tool room, employees shower bath room and garage. (Fig. 2). ‘The substructure is of concrete and the superstructure of brick with some cut stone trim and quoins of. slag-brix. Simplicity has been adhered to in the design and the build- ing as completed presents an attractive appearance. Provision has been made in the design so that ad tions may be made to the existing plant without interfering with the operation or losing any of the first investment. Intercepting Sewers. The intercepting sewers now built extend from the ‘northeast part of Galesburg to the treatment plant, south- west of the city, a distance of approximately 4.3 miles, With the exception of the upper 5,280 feet, which is some dis- tance from the channel, the intercepting sewer parallels the channel on the north bank and in the paved sections is, laid in the north bank 10 feet from the center line of the channel. Size varies from 15 inches at the upper end to 48 inches in diameter at the treatment plant. ‘Three types of construction were used for the inter- cepting sewers. From the treatment plant to the central portion of the city, brick was used, the diameters being 48 and 42 inches respectively. Where the concrete channel section is built, the sewer is carried under the floor of the channel in the form of a rectangular conerete box with the invert paved with brick. ‘The remaining sewers, varying in size from 30 inches down to 16 inches in diameter, are dou- ble strength vitrified tile. Asphaltie filler was used in Iny- ing the vitrified tile to keep the infiltration as low as pos: sible. ‘The brick sewers are plastered on the top half of the exterior with one inch of mortar and extra care taken in the invert to see that all joints were filled with mortar to make these sewers as water tight as possible. Unit prices and lengths of the various sized sewers are tabulated below: Length cost Sin Description feet per foot Bin, Three ring brick 490 $18.00 48 in. ‘Two ring brick 9750 975 42 in ‘wo ring brick 720 70 30 in, D. 8. Vitrified Tile 1965 3.80 2Tin. D. S. Vitrified Tile 1630 3.30 24 in, D. 8. Vitrified Tile 1400 2.80 20 D. S. Vitrified Tite 1626 2.30 18 in. D. S$. Vitrified Tile 1267 2122 15 in. D. S. Vitrified Tile 2387 1.69 Four foot diameter manholes $75.00 each, Studies were made to determine the capacities of the present combined sewers. In the past few vears, there has been a large increase in impervious surfaces, resulting most ly from paving so that most of the sewers have became adequate. Storm water intercepting sewers are required in most portions of the city. The financial condition of the Sanitary District did not permit carrying out the entire con- struction program under the original lettings and the work now completed is accordingly so laid out that the greatest benefit will result from the first expenditures. Tt is esti- mated that several years will be required to carry out all therecommendations outlined in the report of the Consulting Enginoers, ‘The intercepting sewers are designed for 1970 cond tions when through the construction of the storm wate sewers mentioned above, the present combined sewers will have been changed to separate sewers, with the exception of a small area in the business distriet_ and which will amount to about 15% of the population at that time. Channel Improvements Codar Fork Creek channel had a eapacicy of approxi mately 500 cubic feet per second before being improved. ‘This was exceeded frequently and in 1924 and 1926, floods occurred in which the discharge just wesi of Galesburg was CONCRETE CHANNEL, estimated to be 4500 cubic feet per second. At the upper end of the city, the discharge was 1500 cubie feet per ond. ‘The old creek channel was not adapted to carr flood discharges. The banks were uneven with numerous bends and obstructions. Debris had accumulated at var- ious points so that the creek was virtually blocked. ‘The improved channel is designed for flows of 5500 and 2500 cubic fect per second at the lower and upper ends respectively. Three types of construction were used in the channel improvement. In the lower reaches west of the city, the channel is an earth ditch with bottom widths of 15, 20, 80 and 40 feet and side slopes of one and one-half to one. 10‘There is also a short section at the upper end with a bot tom ten feet. in width One section is paved with conerete with vertical side walls having a height of 12 feet. (See Fig. 3). The net width of this section is thirty-five feel. The total width in this section varies somewhat for a portion of the channel is a twin barrel section with a 24 inch center wall while an- other section has an 18 inch center wall. Where a center wall is provided, the channel has a roof for carrying indus- trial buildings or railroad switeh tracks. ‘The third type of chamnel is paved with vitrified tile blocks 12 inches by 12 inches by two and one-half inches thick. (See Fig. 4). These blocks are tongue and grooved and are perferated with two holes on six inches centers. One-half inch reinforeing rods pass through the holes to anchor the blocks in place. These rods extend parallel to ihe axis of the channel. The blocks were designed for thi VILE BLOCK CHANNEL particular job and have been manufactured locally, | En- gineers for two railroads have visited the work and have been so favorably impressed with them that they are con- sidering adopting them for similar work. Where this type of channel section is built, the bottom width varies from 10 to 15 feet with side slopes of one and one-half to one. The specifications call for the bottom blocks only to be grouted in place. It has been necessary to replace all existing bridges with new structures. While this would have been necessary in some instances on account of changes in street grades, themain reason was on account of the inadequate waterways wien the eld bridges. Sixteen new bridges were bullt with treShannel improvement. ‘These are either two span or EMlale span structures built of reinforced eonerete with the qinale spa" jab type of floor system. Balustrades are of concrete with rectangular panels for ornamentation, ‘Total length of improved channel is 20,750 feet, or approximately four mil Costs. ‘The cost of the work completed to date is in round fig- ures as follows: Treatment plant—$324,000; channel ime provements including bridges, intercepting sewers, ¢tte $750,000; making a total cost of $1,046,000 not including the culvert built by the 0. B, & Q.R.R. Construction, Bids were received in May, 1930 on the treatment plant and sutiliary equipment and on the channel improvements, and guxiliareepting sewers and connections, |The, treet, bridger it was completed in March 1931 and the channel iment Piegoptember, 1952. This latter date is 74 years and wore onthe after the first complaint was made regarding the condition of Cedar Fork. Operation. Operation of the sewage treatment plant started Supe 1, 1981 om a limited scale, only part of the sewage reaghing Ao ee ac due to construction operations on the channel. On September 1, 1982, completion of intercepting sewer Hol Septem Pccatment of all sewage and this has continued to Tater As a result of the operation, the stream below the oie; has been clear and odorless at all times and a satistor- peat patent of distoived oxygen has been maintained in the creek. Invitation to the Public. esburg Sanitary District ex ints to the public to visit the works at all sister-ail Print