Dr. William Hatfield, a chemist, became the first superintendent of the
Sanitary District of Decatur shortly after it was formed in 1917. He later
gained fame for the wastewater research he conducted in Decatur.
This photo taken in May 1925 shows Dr. Karl Imhoff (third from the
left), inventor of the Imhoff treatment process, when he came over from his home
in Germany to visit the Decatur facility. Standing with him are (from left) Dr.
Hatfield, E. Burton, and (right) H. P. Eddy.
Construction technologies shows how District workers built sewer mains
of brick in the 1920’s.
In the 1980's, they laid pre-cast concrete pipe, such as this 84-inch
section.
