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74
in a disgraceful state. Sewage was flowing in at the top and out at
the bottom, direct into the ditch." The effluent from the Waltham
stow sewage farm was described in the following terms:—" The
effluent was brown in colour, rather thick and of a sewage nature,
but not very offensive from the bank."
The Engineer to the Lea Conservancy Board sums up the matter
in the following terms : " The cause of the polluted state of the old
River Lea and the Stratford back rivers, and the Bow river is
principally attributed to three causes, taking them in rotation downwards,
viz.:—Walthamstow effluent, Leyton effluent, and the
discharge from the L.C.C. outlets at Old Ford. The latter flows up
with the tide, over Old Ford tidegates into the back rivers, and as it
flows up joins with the other two evil effluents, so that the whole state
of things is not satisfactory. The remedy is simple, the authorities
should adopt the lower Lea Valley Sewage Scheme, and the L.C.C.
should enlarge the Northern Outfall Sewer, and abate the discharge
of crude sewage into the navigation at Old Ford."
A copy of the above report of the Engineer having been forwarded
by the Secretary of the Lea Conservancy Board to the Public Health
Committee by whom it was considered, I was instructed to enquire
of the Secretary what further steps had been taken by the Board in
this matter. As a result of my interview with the Secretary, a letter,
of which the following is a copy, was sent to the Town Clerk for the
information of the Council.
Lea Conservancy,
14, Finsbury Circus, E.C.
17 th September, 1902.
Sir,
LOWER LEA VALLEY—MAIN SEWERAGE.
I am directed to forward herewith for the information of the Hackney
Borough Council a copy of the Report and estimates on the proposed Lower
Lea Valley Main Sewerage and Sewerage Disposals prepared by the Engineer
of the Lee Conservancy, also a copy of Sir Alex. R. Binnie's report on the
same, and a copy of the Plans and Sections of the Scheme.