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32
proper jointing material, leaky and defective, in some places pipes
broken and crudely patched, and at various points under the pipes the
earth was found to be wee with percolation from the defective drain
" In one room in the basement an old drain pipe was found
apparently dead, and this had at some time or other been improperly
sealed off. It was practically open at the bottom, allowing free run for
rats and a passage for sewer gases and foul air at all times. When this
drain was found in this condition it was sealed off the same night by
the Council's men but on the following morning, on an examination
being made it was found that fresh rat runs had been made into this
same room, showing that further defects existed further on the same
section of drainage.
"The soil pipe from the w.c. over the Board Room is of part lead
and part stoneware; the joints are defective and the soil pipe is
unventilated. The soil pipes from the clerks' w.c. is of seamed lead
and not of such construction as is now recognised as satisfactory
although ventilated. Both these soil pipes must be reported as
defective and unsatisfactory.
" The sink waste pipes, and in certain instances the rain water pipes
in this block are, although trapped, improperly connected into the
drains, there being no gullies or open air space between such pipes
and the entrance to the drains.
" The waste pipes from the lavatory basins were not traced in
their entirety as it was impossible to do so without dismantling the
offices, but so far as can be judged they are in each case connected
with the soil pipes above referred to.
" The urinal waste from the Board Room lavatory discharges into
a trap under the basement floor, but there is no trap under the fittings
or to the floor waste.
"There is a defective bell trap in the area, on the north side,
entering into the drains by means of a square junction.