drain into a sewer or be disposed of by other means (para 1-l0d; see Figure 1-7).
These facilities, along with the other liquid waste facilities, need to be close to the edge
of the unit's area but at least 30 yards from the nearest water source.
a. Soakage Pits. In temporary camps, a soakage pit constructed like a urine
soakage pit described in paragraph 3-5a will normally dispose of liquid kitchen wastes.
The difference in the construction of urine soakage pits and kitchen waste soakage pits
is that, in the kitchen waste soakage pit, a grease trap is substituted for the pipes or
troughs used in the urine soakage pit. A company-sized unit of 200 soldiers would need
two soakage pits so that each would have a rest period every other day to prevent the
possibility of clogging by organic material. In porous soil, a soakage pit 4 feet square
and 4 feet deep will take care of 200 galIons of liquid per day. In camps of long duration
(7 weeks or more), two additional soakage pits would be constructed so that each would
be given a rest period of 1 week every month to prevent clogging. A soakage pit that
has become clogged will not accept additional liquid; it should be abandoned and a new
one constructed. When such a pit is to be closed, it should be mounded over with 1 foot
of compacted earth and properly marked (para 3-2f).
b. Soakage Trench. If the ground water level or a rock formation exists close to
the surface, soakage trenches may be used in place of soakage pits. These trenches
consist of a pit,2 feet square and 1 foot deep with a trench radiating outward from each
of its sides for a distance of 6 feet or more (see Figure 3-11). These trenches are dug 1
foot wide and vary in depth from 1 foot at the central pit to 1 1/2 feet at the outer ends.
The pit and trenches are filled with material similar to that used in the soakage pit. Two
such units should be built for every 200 persons fed with each unit being used on
alternate days. A grease trap should also be used with a soakage trench. A soakage
trench is closed in a manner similar to closing a soakage pit.
Figure 3-11. Soakage trench with barrel filter grease trap in place.
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