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While the Borough is responsible for the local sewerage of its own district, the
duty of the disposal of sewerage is the responsibility of the 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.
In recent years the increasing use of synthetic detergents has given rise to
difficulties at the disposal works. Apart from some interference with the purification
process, parts of the works have at times been buried in foam. Research at
the works has succeeded in overcoming the foam problem - at considerable annual cost
and efforts are continuing to secure an effluent of the highest standard of purity.
RIVERS AND STREAMS- No complaint of pollution was made to the Health Department
during 1955. A watch is kept on streams for evidenc of breeding of mosquitoes.
The County Council has started systematic sampling of the River Brent at fixed
points at monthly intervals. Samples are also taken of surface waters which are
suspected of causing pollution. The Department co-operates in the tracing of
possible sources of pollution and in seeking a remedy where pollution is proved.
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 10
Water closets provided in substitution for dry receptacles,,etc. 3
Water closets where walls cleansed 14
Water closets fitted with new flushing apparatus 16
New pans or pedestals provided 40
Water closets repaired or improved 72
Water closets blockages unstopped 8
Other closets provided or repaired 3
Urinals constructed, rebuilt or repaired 8
PUBLIC CLEANSING - The cleansing of streets and 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 the action of the Health Department 34 new dustbins were provided during the
year.

Recruitment of staff for this work is not easy and the public could help by
seeing that dry refuse only is placed in bins and that gates are unbarred on the
usual day of collection.
Throughout the Borough litter is to be found in our streets, parks and open
spaces and ranges from discarded bus tickets to "any old iron" . While it has to
be admitted that there may be difficulties in disposing of garden refuse and items
that cannot be burned easily much of the unsightliness arising from litter is due to
carelessness and lack of consideration. The Health Department can act only if the
the deposits are "prejudicial to health or a nuisance" as defined in the Public
Health Acts and this is seldom the case.
SANITARY INSPECTION OF THE BOROUGH- In addition to the work recorded in other
paragraphs of this Report, the Sanitary Inspectors continued their general duties of
investigating complaints, abating nuisances and dealing with contraventions of the
Public Health Act. Originally, the sanitary inspector was expected to exercise
legal powers to improve environmental conditions. The legal powers and duties
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