View report page

COMBINED DRAINAGE.
Various Sanitary Authorities made representations to the
County Council in 1894, asking that body to promote legislation
"with a view to an alteration in the definition of the word
drain and the word sewer" in the Metropolis Management Act,
1855 (sec. 250); and ultimately a deputation representing a large
majority of the Vestries and District Boards, waited upon the
Main Drainage Committee with reference to the subject. The
Committee subsequently (7th July, 1894), came to the conclusion
that "a grievance exists, and that a heavy responsibility
is thrown upon the local authorities to repair combined drains
which were laid down for the benefit of the owners of the
houses, and with the intention that the owners should be held
responsible for their maintenance. Having carefully considered
the matter," the Committee came " to the conclusion that the
Council should, as the central authority, promote legislation in
accordance with the views of the local authorities;" and upon
their recommendation it was resolved: " That the Council do
apply to Parliament for an amendment of the definition of
the words sewer and drain in the Metropolis Local Management
Act in the way desired by the local authorities, and that
it be referred to the Parliamentary Committee to prepare a
public Bill, and take such other steps as may be necessary for
that purpose." Such a Bill* has been brought in on behalf of
the Council during the current session. Legislation is certainly
necessary, seeing that Sanitary Authorities are unwilling to
carry out the provisions of the law, by repairing, as " sewers,"
conduits which they consider to be " combined drains " properly
repairable at the expense of the owners of the houses drained,
in common, by such conduits. Cases are not unknown in which
the Sanitary Authority have neglected to abate nuisance for
which they were liable, after the refusal of the owners of houses
to comply with notices calling upon them to execute work
which, in the present unsatisfactory state of the law, has been
held by the highest legal authorities to be the duty of the
Sanitary Authority.
* "Metropolitan Sewers and Drains Bill."