“County Borough of Salford” 600ton twin screw sludge steamer

For eight years Corbett conducted extensive experiments in sewage purification, resulting in a scheme for completing the Salford Sewage Works, including aerated filters, etc. One last piece of this jig-saw remained – the disposal of the solid waste – giving rise to Corbett’s most unusual commission, the design of the 600-ton twin screw steamship, “County Borough of Salford,” destined to spend its life transporting the sludge from the sewage works at Mode Wheel along the Manchester Ship Canal and River Mersey to the dumping grounds in Liverpool Bay. This somewhat crude method of disposal was also adopted by Manchester Corporation at their Davyhulme sewage works on the opposite bank of the Ship Canal and only ceased when a pipeline was opened in 1988. In 1999 EU directives finally prohibited dumping such waste at sea.

Archive      Science Museum [Ship's plan] 'County Borough of Salford'. 600ton twin screw sludge steamer / Joseph Corbett. [ca.1900. Ink and wash on linen-backed paper, scale 1/8":1'. Comprises longitudinal section, main deck plan, sectional deck plan, section thro' tanks looking aft, dimensions. Corbett was borough engineer 1892-1913. This drawing is drawing number 158 of the archive of John Taylor & Sons]