Ontario Provincial Board of Health Annual Report, 1913
Reports of Medical Inspector R.W. Bell, M.D. pg. 45
Bowmanville, September 22nd.
Upon request of the Department of Hospitals and Public Charities, a visit of examination was made to the sewage disposal plant for the hospital at Bowmanville. The hospital lies on the outskirts of the municipality and has at the present time no sewerage facilities. The system which had been installed sometime previous was a cesspool constructed with a tight bottom and cypress sides; apparently, the only way the sewage could escape from this tank was by overflowing or by percolating through the soil from a breather which was placed on one side. Its operation was interrupted by the formation of a considerable mass, probably eight inches thick, of floating matter which prevented the escape of the liquid. and backed up the feed pipe in such a manner as to overflow the syphons in the hospital itself. As an emergency aid, ditches had been dug and the sewage was being received into basins placed near the tank in the garden belonging to the institution. As a temporary expedient, and with the ultimate intention of connecting with the town sewerage scheme, which was being rapidly advanced in the direction of the hospital, sub-soil drainage was recommended and in connection with this it was suggested that the tile be laid rather shallow in order to take advantage of the deep layer of humus which overlaid a rather stiff clay.