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Water Supply.—The water supply of the Borough is derived almost wholly from the Metropolitan
Water Board. A small portion of the Cranford area is supplied by the South-West Suburban Water
Company. There are in the Borough 46 shallow and 3 artesian wells serving 42 premises and of these
7 houses and 2 business premises are without an alternative supply. The water from 6 wells is known to
be unsatisfactory but during the year a new water main was laid and a start made in the provision of a
mains supply to these houses. The following work in connection with water supplies was carried out
during the year:—
Supplies provided or reinstated 11
Cisterns cleansed, repaired, etc. 10
Draw-off taps connected direct to main 5
Service pipes or taps repaired 14
Cases where mains supplies substituted for well supply 3
Samples taken from wells for analysis Nil
Samples taken from mains for analysis 4
Wells abolished Nil
Drainage and Sewerage.—The drainage and sewerage of almost the whole of the Borough is arranged
on the separate system and forms part of the West Middlesex Sewage Scheme. A few houses on the
outskirts of the Borough drain to cesspools. The following work was carried out during 1952:—
Drains exposed for examination 79
Drains unstopped, repaired, etc. 324
WTaste pipes repaired, trapped, etc. 17
Soil pipes repaired, etc. 2
Ventilating shafts repaired, etc. 8
Fresh air inlets repaired, etc. 2
Rainwater pipes disconnected from drains 1
Gully traps inserted or repaired 32
Disconnecting traps inserted or repaired 8
Disconnecting and inspection chambers provided 4
Disconnecting and inspection chambers repaired, etc. 51
Drains constructed or repaired 20
Total length (ft.) of drain pipes laid—
(a) 4" 802
(b) 6" 30
Drain tests applied 25
Other works executed 11
Cesspools emptied or repaired —
Cesspools abolished 1
While the Borough is responsible for the local sewerage of its own district the duty of the disposal
of sewage is the responsibility of Middlesex County Council. The West Middlesex Main Drainage Undertaking
has been in full operation since 1936. It serves an area, including the Borough, of 162 square miles
with a population (1951 census) of 1,340,000. There are 70 miles of main sewers varying in diameter from
2 feet to 13 feet. The sewage flow at the Mogden Works averages 85 million gallons per day though this
may reach as high as 250 million gallons per day in wet weather. A programme of extensions to purification
plant at an estimated cost of £352,000 has been approved.
Rivers and Streams.—No complaint of pollution was made to the Health Department during
1952. A watch is kept on streams for evidence of breeding of mosquitoes.
Closet Accommodation.—The closet accommodation of the Borough consists almost wholly of
water closets connected to the sewers. A few water closets drain to cesspools, and several houses on the
outskirts of the Borough have pail or chemical closets. The following works were carried out during
the year:—
Water closets constructed or rebuilt 12
Water closets provided in substitution for dry receptacles, etc. —
Water closets where walls cleansed 24
Water closets fitted with new flushing apparatus 17
New pans or pedestals provided 37
Water closets repaired or improved 96
Water closets blockages unstopped 15
Other closets provided or repaired 5
Water closets connected to sewer and cesspools abolished -
Urinals constructed, rebuilt or repaired 12
Public Cleansing.—The cleansing of streets and the collection and disposal of refuse are carried
out under the control of the Borough Engineer. Refuse is disposed of by controlled tipping and the
collection of house refuse is carried out weekly. Through action by the Health Department 45 new dustbins
were provided during 1952.
The following details of the salvage of waste materials have been provided by the Borough
Engineer:—
18