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88
In 56 cases the Health Committee gave directions for steps
to be taken against various builders to enforce the deposit of
plans of drainage works executed by them, but in no case was it
found necessary to take legal action.
In 42 cases work to drains and sanitary fittings was found
to have been carried out without notice having first been given
or plans submitted to the Council in accordance with the requirements
of the drainage and other by-laws.
These cases were reported to the Health Committee, who in
the circumstances reported to them ordered the offenders to be
cautioned except in three cases where legal proceedings (the result
of which is shown on pages 80 and 82) were instituted.
During the year 1936, drains were tested by smoke on 370
occasions and in 94 cases the drains were found defective. The
water test was applied on 1,607 occasions, this being mainly
applied to drains in course of construction or reconstruction.
Soil pipes and drains were ventilated in 213 instances.
Water closets were provided in 26 cases and existing closets
repaired in 736 cases.
The total number of drains relaid during the year was 124.
Those cleansed and repaired numbered 293.
Public Cleansing.
I am indebted to the Borough Surveyor for the information
on this subject which is summarised below.
The collection of house and trade refuse is carried out weekly,
except in the case of blocks of dwellings, hospitals, schools, &c.,
where the collection is carried out more frequently. Since the
closing in 1935 of the Council's destructor, the refuse is wholly
disposed of by barging to suitable " tips " outside London. The
removal is carried out under contract which imposes stringent
conditions for the avoidance of nuisance.
The horse-drawn vehicles used for collection are gradually
being replaced by the latest type of mechanically propelled
freighters, and recently the " Container " system has been introduced,
the necessary plant consisting of:—
1 special chassis for handling and transporting containers.
1 3-ton motor unit (" mechanical horse ") to operate the
above.
36 all-steel containers.
1 transporter truck.
By this system, the refuse at public institutions, housing
estates, blocks of flats, &c., is deposited into containers of 1¼ yard
capacity, and such containers with the refuse are collected daily,
and clean containers left for the next day's collection. The used
containers, after being emptied, are washed at the wharf.