View report page

56
caused an analysis to be made. This proved that the water was being
contaminated with surface drainage, and I thereupon represented to the
Trustees interested in the upkeep of this Well, that persons drinking
the water ran a serious risk of injury to their health. As a result, a
Notice is now exhibited upon the Well cautioning the public against
drinking the water.
Ventilation of Sewers.
During the past year complaints, to the number of 58, have been
received by me of offensive odours emanating from the sewer ventilators
in various parts of the Borough, and intimation of such complaints
have been forwarded to the Borough Engineer.
I have no hesitation in saying that, while the present system of
ventilating sewers in Hampstead may, from an engineering point of
view, be efficient, it is in my opinion most unsatisfactory.
That it has actually caused illness I am not prepared to say, but
I am convinced that where no means are taken to render innocuous and
inodorous the sewer gases the ventilation of a sewer by a surface grating
in a roadway is an improper method.
The Borough Council insists upon an effective system of ventilation
of private drains, and it appears to me that the sewers under their
control, which must of necessity be loaded with a greater proportion of
noxious gases, should be at least as efficiently ventilated.
By Section 71 of the Metropolis Local Management Act, 1855, it is
made compulsory that Authorities in the Metropolis shall, in connection
with sewers under their control, " by providing proper traps or other
coverings, or by ventilation, or by such other ways and means as shall
be practicable for that purpose, prevent the effluvia of sewers from
exhaling through gullyholes, gratings, or other openings of sewers in
any of the streets or other places within their district or parish."
I am of opinion therefore, that, where practicable, the present
system should be abolished, and in its place one less likely to cause
annoyance and possible danger to health be substituted.