feature Causing a Stink!
I was asked recently if I knew what the unusual piece of street furniture was in Orchard Road – a strange tall monolith near the junction of Water Lane. As it happened I did know! Many years ago, this nondescript pillar that could easily be mistaken for a lamp post they forgot to attach a light to, used to give of an unpleasant smell of rotten eggs particularly on a hot summer’s day. The pole is in fact a sewage ventilation pipe. Although they go by a variety of names (Stench Pipe is one), if you’re looking online for information, you are more likely to find them under the name of Stink Pipe. There are at least ten stink pipes dotted around the village and all in working order. Most stand alone and are clearly in view. Some have trees growing alongside and one looks exceptional in the summer with its growing tendrils of ivy spiralling up the pole. These unassuming looking columns (particularly in Melbourn) have several functions. Firstly, they are pressure release valves used to prevent a build-up of gas pressure in the sewers in the event of a blockage or any other build-up of gas, and secondly, they ensure that any of this gas (corrosive Hydrogen sulphide which gives the rotten egg smell) is vented off. The gas usually occurs when sewage is being pumped long distances or on a higher plain than the sewage plant. The sewage can become septic if it does not travel fast enough. Orchard Road. The cause of the stink!
Water Lane, looks exceptional in the summer with its growing tendrils of ivy spiralling up the pole.
Although the underground sewage pipes run throughout the village there are a few areas where the pipes require venting. A pipe runs from the highest point in the village – the top of Water Lane – down to Orchard Road, along Orchard Road to Norgett’s Lane and then along The Moor. Another section runs through Dolphin Lane and along Cross Lane and into Station Road. Fortunately, the rotten egg smell has diminished, or at least you don’t hear complaints about it these days! This is partly due to the improvements in the underground sewage system. However, not all is rosy in the sewage garden. As new developments are built, it is the developers who decide how they vent their sewage network and some of these systems are not to the liking of the water authorities. Authorities prefer the tried and tested stink pipes, as some of the new systems have proven incapable of coping with the build-up of pressure in the sewers resulting in some devastating consequences. Looking on the internet, it would appear stench pipe watching is a little like trainspotting – people go around seeking out and keeping records of these strange poles. There are several websites dedicated to the ubiquitous ventilation pipe and numerous photographs that show off some amazing designs. Strangely enough once you have gone out of your way to look for one of these unusual edifices you do tend to notice others as you travel around. Melbourn has quite a few pipes; one can be found in Water Lane opposite Back Lane. This is the ivy-covered pole mentioned previously above. Along Orchard Road, starting at Water Lane, you will find one almost at the junction of these two roads. Further along there is one just continued on page 28 melbournmagazine@gmail.com
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