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Number of cesspools abolished and main drainage provided
during the year 82
Number of houses with pail closets converted to cesspool
drainage 2
Number of new houses erected with cesspool drainage 20
Number of loads removed from cesspools on private,
requisitioned, and Council properties 4750
Section 23 of the Orpington Urban District Council Act, 1954.
enables the Council to require owners to drain their premises to the
public sewer in certain cases and a resolution by the Public Health
Committee to invoke these powers was ratified by the Council in the
early part of the year.
The owners of approximately 140 premises were contacted in this
matter and in 50 cases Statutory Notices were served.
The value of this new local legislation is reflected in the greatly
increased number of connections as compared with the previous two
years, the figures for 1953 and 1954 being 23 and 24 respectively.
It is stressed, however, that every effort is made to secure the execution
of the necessary works before recourse to legal action, and every
assistance possible is given to the owners concerned, including the
availability of a loan scheme.
Swimming Baths and Pools.
Twenty-five visits of inspection were made by the Sanitary
Inspectors to the one swimming bath in the district to which the
public are admitted.
Two samples of water were taken for examination, both of which
were satisfactory.
Drainage and Sewerage.
The trunk soil sewerage system is under the control of the West
Kent Main Sewerage Board. Branch main soil sewers and main
surface water sewers have been provided during the year by the Local
Authority, as under:—