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SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA.
Closet Accommodation.
With the exception of a small number of earth closets used
by Sports Clubs, the water conservancy system is in general use
in this Borough. There are 5 cess-pools which are periodically
emptied by the Borough Council.
Scavenging.
The removal of house and trade refuse is carried out under
the direction of the Borough Engineer and Surveyor of this
Council.
A weekly collection of refuse is the rule, but where necessary
a more frequent collection is made from blocks of tenements,
boarding houses, etc.
The refuse is then transported by rail and barges from East
Dulwich, Bricklayer's Arms and Nunhead Stations, and from
Glengall Wharf on the Grand Surrey Canal.
In the majority of the houses in this Borough the substitution
of movable for fixed dustbins has been completed.
Special bins, which are not perhaps strictly in accordance
with the by-laws as regards size, have been sanctioned in places
where portable bins have in the past disappeared owing to the
large number of persons having access to them.
Smoke Abatement.
Much of the nuisance from industrial smoke is due to careless
or inefficient stoking and the use of coal of an indifferent type.
It has been calculated that roughly one-fourth of the pollution
of the air is due to industrial smoke. It is evident that the
elimination of industrial smoke will not entirely solve the problem
of atmospheric pollution, with its effect on the health of the
people, as there still remains the nuisance from domestic chimneys.
Of late years the increased use of gas and electricity for
domestic purposes has resulted in some improvement, but the
solution of this problem to some extent depends upon the more
extensive use of smokeless fuel. The difficulty seems to be, however,
to produce this type of fuel on a commercial scale at a cost
at least equal to that of ordinary coal.
During 1925, 114 observations were made and 13 nuisances
occurred for which Notices were served. There were no legal
proceedings instituted.
B
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