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Main Drainage.
181
The works referred to in (1) and (2) were completed during the year under review and the discharge
of sewage and drainage from the Brent area into the London main drainage system commenced
on 30th September, 1911. From the date of the first discharge, there became due from the Willesden
Council, the above-mentioned sum of £40,000, and this sum, together with interest thereon at the rate
of 3£ per cent. per annum, is to be paid to the Council in one hundred half-yearly instalments of
principal and interest combined. The rate referred to in (3) also became due as from 30th September,
1911.
The sewer from the county boundary to the Council's middle-level sewe No. 2 was constructed
of larger dimensions than would have been necessary had it been intended to use the sewer solely
for the conveyance of Willesden sewage, the reason being that it was considered desirable that the
sewer should be utilised as a means of relief in times of storm for the district through which it passed.
Instead, therefore, of the whole cost of the sewer being defrayed by the Willesden Urban District
Council, it was decided to divide the cost as follows: Willesden, £18,944 2s. 2d. ; London,
£9,782 l1s. l0d.
Illegal
discharges
into sewers.
section 9 of the London County Council (General rowers) Act, 1894, prohibits the discharge
into any sewer of the Council, or any sewer or drain communicating therewith, of any chemical or manufacturing
or trade or other liquid refuse, or any waste steam, condensing water, heated water, or other
liquid of a temperature exceeding 110 deg. Fahr., which either alone, or in combination with other
matters or liquid in a sewer, may cause a nuisance, or involve danger or risk of injury to the health
of persons entering the sewers, or be injurious to the structure or materials of the sewers or works of
the Council. It was necessary in only one case during the year to institute legal proceedings in respect
of the contravention of the above-mentioned section, and in this instance a penalty of £10 10s., with
£10 10s. costs was imposed.
Unless great care be exercised at places where petrol or similar liquids are used, there is a possibility
of matter of a dangerous nature finding its way into drains and sewers, and it was thought desrable
to issue a warning as to the danger of allowing this to happen, and the liability attaching thereto.
Copies of an Order made by the Council on 20th December, 1898, under section 10 of the Act above
referred to, prohibiting the discharge of dangerous substances into sewers, were therefore served during
the year upon a number of persons licensed under the Petroleum Acts, and carrying on businesses such
as might produce residues which would be dangerous if discharged into sewers.
Building over
sewers.
By Sections 204 and 68 of the Metropolis Management Acts of 1855 and 1862 respectively, the
erection in, on, over, or under any sewer of a building, wall, bridge, fence, etc., without the previod
consent of the Council is prohibited. During the year 13 licences to build over sewers were granted.
The principal works of repair, etc., undertaken during the year, and the expenditure sanctioned
therefor in each case were as follows:—
Repairs, etc.
Barking Outfall.—Alterations to effluent discharging channel and provision of sewage
recording gauges, £1,000 (continuation of work for which expenditure of £2,000 wras sanctioned
in 1910); new dolphin to pier, £1,000; cleansing old reservoir, £500; alterations to sludge
delivery pipe, £450 ; repairs to river wall, £440.
Deptford Pumping Station.—Repairs to condensing water pipe, £500 ; painting buildings
and engines, £500.
Repairs to sewers.—Ravensbourne and Sydenham, £1,250; Fleet (Guildford-street branch),
£1,000; Fleet (St. John-street branch ), £1,000; Smith-street, £1,000; Ratcliff-highway, £1,000;
Northern outfall, £700 ; Northern low-level No. 1 (new penstock at Harwood-terrace, Fulham),
£500; Countess-creek (flap valve for storm-water outlet,) £500.
Revairs to sludge vessels.—£3,250.

Work 8
completed or
in progress.