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212
Drainage and Sewerage
Under the Public Health Act, 1936, an existing combined
drain is classified as a public sewer which it is the Council's duty
to maintain, cleanse and empty. "Maintenance" includes repair,
renewal and improvement but, in the case of improvement
includes only that which may be necessary to make the length of
sewer adequate for draining the premises served by it immediately
before the improvement was undertaken. A local authority is
entitled to recover the expenses reasonably incurred in carrying
out such works.
During the year, 1,209 public sewers were tested and maintained,
cleansed or emptied.
Thirteen cesspools remain in use in the Borough and, under the
Borough Engineer and Surveyor's direction, these are emptied
on request.
Plans received in respect of proposed drainage work to be
carried out to existing buildings are examined by the public
Health Inspectors prior to their submission by the Borough
Engineer and Surveyor to the Council for approval.
Radioactive Substances Act, 1960
The Act is concerned with the control of the accumulation and
disposal of radioactive wastes and, as from 1st December, 1963,
persons keeping or using radioactive material will, unless
exempted, be required to register with the Minister of Housing
and Local Government and obtain authorisation from him for the
accumulation or disposal of radioactive waste.
No copies of certificates of registration were received from the
Minister during the year.
Water Supply
The whole of the Borough is supplied with water by the Metropolitan
Water Board, a Statutory undertaking, which, as a result
of the Metropolis Water Act, 1902, was formed in 1903 when
it took over the 8 undertakings which were then supplying
London's water. As a Board it is committed to supply a population
of some 6¼ million people within an area of 540 square
miles extending from Ware in the north to Sevenoaks in the
south and which has an average daily consumption of 400 million