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69
INSUFFICIENCY OF THE MAIN SEWERS.
I have had occasion more than once in these reports to refer to the flooding of basements of
numerous houses in the borough on the occurrence of heavy storms. The most notable inundation
was that of October, 1898, referred to in the annual report for 1898 (page 129). The attention of
the County Council was at that date urgently directed to the matter with the view to expedite the
commencement of the pumping station at Lot's Road, Chelsea, designed to prevent recurrence. The
nuisance is due to the insufficiency of the main sewers, more particularly the Counter's-creek sewer,
to carry off storm water. It has been the subject of complaint during many years ; and it is really
surprising with what patience people have borne repetition of an infliction than which one can
hardly imagine any more trying. It is to be hoped that these floodings will soon be a thing of the
past, the County Council having last year commenced the relief works at Lot's-road; the decision to
provide these works having been formed in the year 1895. The Council, moreover, have resolved to
expend three millions in the construction of new main line sewers in different parts of the metropolis,
which, it may be hoped, will prevent the nuisance in other districts. So large a work will necessarily
extend over several years.
SEWERAGE OF ROYAL CRESCENT.
Cases of diphtheria having been notified at Royal-crescent, from time to time, investigation
led to the inference that the occurrence and recurrence of the malady was probably due to the
position and character of the sewer in that street. The disease had attacked residents in several
houses at the east end of the western section of the Crescent, nearest to the highest portion of the
sewer, adjacent to Darnley-road. The sewer at this point was close up to the vaults of the houses;
it was of a great size, far beyond requirements, and of antiquated type. Bad smells, previously,
and for a long time complained of by the inhabitants, had been due to the untrapped gratings over
the channels leading direct into the sewer. The trapping of these gullies, and the ventilation of
the sewer, by a pipe carried up against a house, did not suffice to remove cause for complaint,
and the late Vestry, upon the recommendation of the Sanitary Committee, decided to abolish the
sewer, and to construct a pipe-sewer in lieu thereof. This was done; the old sewer was broken up,
and the part nearest to the houses, where the disease had appeared, was removed. Since the work
was completed, in the autumn, there has been no case of diphtheria in the street, and no complaint.
UNTRAPPED STREET GULLIES.
The Sanitary Committee of the late Vestry gave attention to this subject in connection
with my recommendation, in the twelfth report for,1899 (December 7th, page 126), that, "as soon
as practicable, the brick flap-trapped street gullies should be replaced by pan syphon-trapped gullies."
The Committee in their report, dated 14th February, recommended, and it was subsequently
resolved, " that the Vestry do adhere to the course hitherto adopted of dealing with each complaint
of smells from gullies on its merits." In the report referred to, I had suggested that, at the
earliest practicable date, all brick, flap-trapped gullies, should be abolished in favour of pan
syphon-trapped gullies. The Surveyor reported that there were about 5,000 brick flap-trapped
gullies in the parish, and that the cost of fixing syphon-trapped pan gullies in lieu thereof would
amount to about £3 per gully—say, £15,000 in all; a large sum, but considerably less than that
about to be expended on wood-paving in one street—Cromwell-road. The Committee stated that
under orders of the Vestry, all brick gullies which had been proved to be offensive, were replaced
with the newer pattern of gully; that any new gullies constructed are of this type, and that pan
gullies are also fixed in roads converted from macadam to asphalte, or wood paving. They further
observed that with the question of syphon-trapping street gullies, is closely involved the question
of sewer ventilation, and that until some solution has been found of the difficulties encountered in
dealing with this latter question, they could not see their way to advise the adoption of the scheme
indicated in my report. For what it is worth, it may be mentioned that in some towns the gullies
are trapped although the sewers are not ventilated. Bristol is a notable instance, and that city is
by no means an unhealthy one. Means of ventilation, in any case, could surely be devised, and I
am still of opinion that brick flap-trapped gullies should be displaced by syphon-trapped gullies.
The so-called " flap-trap " is not a trap at all, in the sanitary sense of apparatus for preventing the
escape of sewer gas.
DRAINAGE BYE-LAWS.
Towards the close of the year 1896, forty years after the passing of the Metropolis Management
Act, 1855, and many years after I had first called attention to the subject (in 1885), the County
Council made, and transmitted for the information of the sanitary authorities, draft bye-laws under
section 202.* The matter was referred to the sanitary committee of the late Vestry, whose proposed
* The proposed bye-laws are : "for regulating the dimensions, form, and mode of construction, and the keeping, cleansing,
and repairing of the pipes, drains, and other means of communicating with sewers, and the traps and apparatus connccted
therewith."