A small laboratory was built near the power house in mid-1896.
Trials were begun with several types of filter, but none were particularly effective, although they were better than land filtration.
The old river bed soon became full of sludge, and the Corporation purchased a boat, so that the sludge could be dumped at sea.
The Joseph Thompson was built in Barrow in Furness at a cost of £24,837, and made its first voyage in December 1897.
Loading of the sludge took around 45 minutes, the journey down the Ship Canal took six and a half hours, and the sludge was discharged near the Mersey Bar Light in five minutes.

Conversion of the treatment process from chemical precipitation to septic tanks and sedimentation tanks began in December 1900, and was completed on 4 August 1904.
The tanks covered an area of 12.5 acres (5.1 ha).
Air was excluded from them by the formation of a scum on the surface, and anaerobic microbes broke down the sewage.
The 'first contact bacteria beds' covered 46 acres (19 ha), with a similar area used for 'second contact bacteria beds'.
There were also 26 acres (11 ha) which were used for 'storm water filters'.
The bacteria beds were filled with a media of coke or granite chippings, around which microbes formed a slimy film.
The oxygen-loving microbes digested the organic matter in the sewage as it passed through the media.

The railway system was heavily used in the construction of the beds.
A steam locomotive had been purchased in 1897, and another four were bought as the work expanded.
Once the filter beds had been completed, they needed to be emptied for the media to be washed, regraded and topped up every few years, and this became the primary function of the railway for the next 32 years.
It was also used to remove rubbish from the screening chambers, moving 861 wagon loads between October 1901 and March 1902.
By July 1905, the primary bacteria beds had been completed, and an extra 126 acres (51 ha) of land had been bought at Flixton and Carrington, which was to be used for secondary bacteria beds and land filtration.
By 1905, the works owned a total of 295 acres (119 ha), which included the route for a conduit from Davyhulme to Flixton.

The Corporation had never liked the idea of secondary beds so far from the main works, and the plans were changed.
An experimental secondary bed was built on a site close to Barton Locks.
Extra land was bought from Barton and Irwell Rural District Council, on condition that the works treated sewage from the local area.
This required another 4 acres (1.6 ha) of primary bacteria beds.
The secondary beds was gradually brought on-line as they were completed.
The area dedicated to this function increased from 6.5 acres (2.6 ha) in March 1909, to 17 acres (6.9 ha) in October 1910, and 37.25 acres (15.07 ha) by the time the project was finished in April 1914.
Each secondary bed covered about 1 acre (0.40 ha), and was filled with a much finer media than the primary beds.
A small laboratory was built near the power house in mid-1896. Trials were begun with several types of filter, but none were particularly effective, although they were better than land filtration. The old river bed soon became full of sludge, and the Corporation purchased a boat, so that the sludge could be dumped at sea. The Joseph Thompson was built in Barrow in Furness at a cost of £24,837, and made its first voyage in December 1897. Loading of the sludge took around 45 minutes, the journey down the Ship Canal took six and a half hours, and the sludge was discharged near the Mersey Bar Light in five minutes.
Conversion of the treatment process from chemical precipitation to septic tanks and sedimentation tanks began in December 1900, and was completed on 4 August 1904. The tanks covered an area of 12.5 acres (5.1 ha). Air was excluded from them by the formation of a scum on the surface, and anaerobic microbes broke down the sewage. The 'first contact bacteria beds' covered 46 acres (19 ha), with a similar area used for 'second contact bacteria beds'. There were also 26 acres (11 ha) which were used for 'storm water filters'. The bacteria beds were filled with a media of coke or granite chippings, around which microbes formed a slimy film. The oxygen-loving microbes digested the organic matter in the sewage as it passed through the media.
The railway system was heavily used in the construction of the beds. A steam locomotive had been purchased in 1897, and another four were bought as the work expanded. Once the filter beds had been completed, they needed to be emptied for the media to be washed, regraded and topped up every few years, and this became the primary function of the railway for the next 32 years. It was also used to remove rubbish from the screening chambers, moving 861 wagon loads between October 1901 and March 1902. By July 1905, the primary bacteria beds had been completed, and an extra 126 acres (51 ha) of land had been bought at Flixton and Carrington, which was to be used for secondary bacteria beds and land filtration. By 1905, the works owned a total of 295 acres (119 ha), which included the route for a conduit from Davyhulme to Flixton.
The Corporation had never liked the idea of secondary beds so far from the main works, and the plans were changed. An experimental secondary bed was built on a site close to Barton Locks. Extra land was bought from Barton and Irwell Rural District Council, on condition that the works treated sewage from the local area. This required another 4 acres (1.6 ha) of primary bacteria beds. The secondary beds was gradually brought on-line as they were completed. The area dedicated to this function increased from 6.5 acres (2.6 ha) in March 1909, to 17 acres (6.9 ha) in October 1910, and 37.25 acres (15.07 ha) by the time the project was finished in April 1914. Each secondary bed covered about 1 acre (0.40 ha), and was filled with a much finer media than the primary beds.
Davyhulme Sewage Works