a. Soakage Pits. In temporary camps, a soakage pit will normally dispose of
liquid kitchen wastes for a total of 200 men. The only difference in the construction of a
urine soakage pit and a kitchen waste soakage pit is that in the kitchen waste soakage
pit, a grease trap is substituted for the pipes or troughs used in the urine soakage pit. If
the camp is to last for two weeks, two kitchen waste soakage pits should be
constructed, each pit to be used only on alternate days since a rest period will help to
prevent clogging. A soakage pit that has become clogged should be closed and a new
one constructed. When closed, the pit should be covered with one foot of compacted
earth. The covered site is marked as indicated in paragraph 4-9 if the tactical situation
permits.
b. Soakage Trenches. If the ground water level or a rock formation exists close
to the surface, a soakage trench may be used instead of soakage pits. The soakage
trench consists of a pit that is two feet square and one foot deep and trenches radiating
outward from its sides for a distance of six feet or more (figure 4-12). These trenches
are one foot wide and vary in depth from one foot at the central pit to one and one-half
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. Soakage
trenches should be used on alternate days (the first soakage trench used on Monday,
the second on Tuesday, the first again on Wednesday, and so forth.). A grease trap
should also be used with a soakage trench.
Figure 4-12. Soakage trench with barrel filter grease trap.
MD0535
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