View report page

37
STORM FLOODING.
Previous annual reports have contained references to flooding
of underground rooms in the Southern part of the Borough, due to
the surcharging of sewers during heavy rainfall.
The hardship caused to residents by these floodings has been
commented on as well as the danger to health from contaminated
water and the subsequent difficulty of freeing affected premises
from dampness.
During 1933 there was no storm of sufficient magnitude to
affect surcharging of the sewers with resultant flooding.
A Storm Flooding Relief Scheme was adopted by the Council,
put into operation in April, and completed in December, 1932.
Full details of the scheme are provided in the Annual Report
of the Council for 1932. It is gratifying to note in the concluding
paragraph of the report that the scheme as finally adopted will
prove successful in preventing flooding in the Borough, except in
the case of the most exceptional storms, for which it is, economically
speaking, impossible to provide, and that even in the case of such
storms the extent of flooding of premises and danger to health
arising thereby will be considerably mitigated.
Food Poisoning.—One instance of suspected food poisoning
affecting three members of a family was reported during the year.
Those affected complained of nausea and vomiting, and were of
the opinion that these symptoms were due to a tin of peaches.
The remainder of the contents of the tin were forwarded for
examination and were reported as being quite harmless chemically
and bacteriologically. The symptoms cleared up rapidly under
medical treatment, and investigation failed to find any evidence of
food contamination.
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.—The Sanitary
Inspectors are the rat officers appointed by the Council under the
Act, and complaints as to infestation with rats brought to their
notice are investigated, and advice and assistance given where
necessary.