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99
SEWAGE DISPOSAL AND REFUSE COLLECTION
I am indebted to the Borough Engineer, A. F. Holt, Esq.,
A.M.I.C.E., for the following information: —
Refuse Collection and Disposal.

This was disposed of by Controlled Tipping and three sites
were in use during the year, viz. The East Surrey Gravel Pits,
Albert Road and West wood Avenue. The last named, at present
in use, is being levelled for eventual use as school playing fields
Sewage Disposal.
The sewage of the Borough is dealt with at Beddington and
South Norwood. The Addington area drains into the West Kent
Drainage Board Works and a small part of Upper Norwood into
the L.C.C. system.
The main works at Beddington deals not only with the
sewage from the major part of the Borough, but takes the sewage
under agreement from four outside authorities, viz., Coulsdon
and Purley U.D.C., Caterham and Warlingham U.D.C., Banstead
U.D.C., and Carshalton U.D.C. The sewage flow from
an estimated population of 333,000 is treated at the Beddington
Works, the dry weather flow being about 12 million gallons
per day.
The Works include a very modern Sludge Digestion Plant,
from which Methane Gas is evolved as a natural by-product of
the process. This gas is used for generating all the electricity
required for power and lighting of the Works, for maintaining
temperature in the Digestors, and, by compressing it, for use on
vehicles as a fuel in lieu of petrol.
Some 35 vehicles, including part of the fleet of Refuse Collecting
Vehicles, have been running on this gas during 1953, and
by this means about 46,000 gallons of petrol were saved.