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in close co-operation with officers of the Housing Department, both in the
planning stages and actual installation. Before each block of flats was
certified as fit for occupation, the plumbing system was submitted to very
careful tests and was found to be satisfactory in every respect. As a
result the future development of this site, comprising as it will 400 flats
in 18 separate blocks, will utilise the same system of sanitary plumbing.
It is noteworthy that this housing project is the largest of
its kind in which this system has been used, and is therefore being watched
with very great interest, as the system results in a considerable saving
in plumbing costs, whilst at the same time it is both simple and efficient.
Another matter worthy of note was the extensive fire which
occurred on 7th September, 1950 at the riverside premises of Messrs.
Convoys Ltd., Townmead Road. The fire involved a large quantity of wax
which, when melted, flowed into the sewer in Townmead Road resulting in
a partial chokage of the sewer, and complete stoppage of numerous outlet
drains of houses in Townmead Road and several communicating streets. The
clearance and removal of this wax was undertaken by the Borough Engineer.
Every assistance was given by the Sanitary Inspectors to the owners of the
houses, whose outlet drains were affected, and to the Borough Engineer's
Department.
RODENT CONTROL
The Rodent Officer and staff of Rodent Operatives continued
the campaign against rats and mice during the year. A total of 754
complaints, or notifications of the existence of rats or mice, were
received by the Department which represents a slight decrease over those
received last year.
The investigation of these complaints including routine
inspections of riverside premises necessitated 6,500 visits by the staff
to dwelling houses, and 1,502 visits to business premises.
The number of infestations by mice were nearly double those
by rats. In the case of dwelling houses a total, of 382 premises were
treated, 577 for mice and 305 for rats. In the case of business
premises a charge is made for treatment which at present is at the rate
of 6/~ per man-hour for actual treatment, no charge being made for the
initial investigation. In 92 such cases charges were made.
In accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of
Agriculture & Fisheries 2 treatments of the public sewers were carried
out in January and June.