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101
your Committee. Details of this will be found in the Annual
Report of 1903.
It may be remembered that one of the principal sources
of pollution arose from the discharge of an unsatisfactory effluent
from the Croydon Sewage Farm into the River Pool, afterwards
finding its way into the Ravensbourne. Most careful observations
were made, supplemented by repeated chemical and
bacteriological examinations.
Your Council made special representations to the Croydon
Corporation and the Local Government Board, and were subsequently
informed by the Croydon Corporation that they were
about to appoint an Engineer for the purpose, amongst other
things, of dealing with the Sewage Disposal Works.
Your Borough Surveyor accompanied me on another visit
to the Sewage Works, when the Engineer explained the nature
of the work it was intended to carry out to improve the condition
of the effluent. It was estimated that these works would take at
least six months to complete.
Further samples of water were taken from the rivers, the
analytical results showing that the water was still in a most
unsatisfactory condition, owing to the continued pollution.
In February your Committee directed that the attention
of the Local Government Board should again be called to the
unsatisfactory condition of the effluent from the Croydon Sewage
Farm, requesting them to take the necessary steps to prevent
the continuation of the pollution. After this action a Local
Government Board enquiry was held in respect of an application
by the Croydon Corporation for a Loan of £5,000 for the
necessary improvement works, which application was, I believe,
sanctioned. Up to the present the works have not been completed,
and the pollution still continues.