View report page

100
A further inspection was made, showing the river to be
seriously polluted at various points, evidenced by the collection
of large quantities of solid excrement. Several samples of the
river water were taken and submitted for analysis, and the
nuisance increasing, it became necessary for the Borough
Surveyor to immediately cleanse the river from Crab Hill to
Bromley.
The fact that this Sewage Board were able to cleanse their
sewers and discharge solid and other excrement into the river at
any time shows the pollution was deliberate, and not due to
accidental cause. The existence of facilities for its repetition is
a danger to the public health of the district.
Your Council drew the attention of the West Kent Main
Sewerage Board to the nuisance which had been created, and a
request was made that they should, without delay, cut off and
abolish all overflows from their sewers into the rivers in this
Borough, in order to prevent the recurrence of any pollution or
contamination.
Your Council was subsequently informed by the Board
that precautions had been taken which would prevent the
occurrence of the nuisance in future.
Notice was served under the Rivers Pollution Act, and
your Committee insisted in the abolition of all overflows from
the sewer above referred to. This requirement was complied
with.
ADMISSION OF SEWAGE EFFLUENT.—During the
early part of the year 1903 an examination was made of the
rivers within the Borough, and their tributaries, and a detailed
report of the various sources of pollution found was laid before