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40
RIVERS AND STREAMS.
No action to check pollution was necessary during the year.
CLOSET ACCOMMODATION.
All closets are of the water carriage type. There are no closets of the conservancy
or waste-water type in the area. There is, however, a sad deficiency of the "sufficient" water
closet accommodation of the Housing Acts. In an urban community this can only reasonably
be interpreted as meaning one W.C. per family, a standard which is far from being realised
locally.
PUBLIC CLEANSING.
REFUSE COLLECTION.
Refuse collection is carried out by means of mechanical transport at an economic
cost and with a general freedom from complaints. The Council endeavour to keep the type
of vehicle engaged on the collection as up-to-date as circumstances will permit, and latterly
have purchased three vehicles with enclosed bodies of the barrier type, which are giving every
satisfaction not only to the Department, but to the residents generally; further vehicles of
this type will, no doubt, be purchased in the near future when renewals become necessary.
Generally the House Refuse is collected once weekly, but extra collections are made
in the case of public buildings, large blocks of flats and other premises where special circumstances
arise.
There are still a few ash pits in the Borough, but these are gradually being abolished
as opportunities occur. Special attention is given to the maintenance of the dustbins to see
that these are kept in serviceable condition.
DISPOSAL.
Practically the whole of the House and Trade Refuse collected in the Borough continues
to be disposed of at the Refuse Destructor in a satisfactory and economical manner.
The volume of Refuse dealt with has increased out of proportion to the tonnage, and
it is assumed this is due to the increasing substitution of gas and electric fires in place of
solid fuel fires, and so curtailing facilities for burning Refuse on the premises.
SCAVENGING AND WATERING.
Practically all the streets in the Borough receive daily attention, and the more important
thoroughfares are swept several times daily; mechanical watering vehicles are employed
in the summer and gullies are mechanically cleansed by a modern machine.
SANITARY INSPECTION OF THE AREA.
During the year the sanitary staff numbered one senior inspector responsible for all
new drainage work, seven district inspectors, three housing inspectors, one woman sanitary
inspector and one food and drugs inspector. Three clerks assist in office routine. There is
also a whole-time Rat Repression Officer in the Department.