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120
CHAPTER XXVI.
MAIN DRAINAGE.
Drainage
area and
statistics.
The district drained by the Council's main drainage system has an area of nearly 149 square miles
with a population (in 1911) of 5,334,731. This includes an area of nearly 32 square miles, with a population
of 813.046. outside the countv.

The sludge vessels made 2,083 trips, and travelled altogether 229,560 miles.
Sewers
under the
Council's
control.
Generally speaking, the sewers under the control of the Council comprise: (1) outfall and intercepting
sewers which flow roughly parallel to the Thames, and convey the sewage to the outfalls; (2)
main sewers, many of which are on the lines of streams formerly discharging into the Thames but which
now connect with the intercepting sewers; and (3) storm relief sewers which discharge rainwater into
the Thames by the shortest practicable route. Many main sewers have storm-water outlets to the river.
Northern
outfall.
Further repairs to the pier at the Northern outfall, which have proceeded continuously since 1913,
were authorised during the year at a cost not exceeding £1,600.
Southern
outfall.
After the opening in 1916 of the new engine-house at the southern outfall, it became possible to
lay off for overhaul the main beam-engines and pumps. The work is proceeding continuously. The
expenditure authorised during the year amounted to £1,000 for work to be executed by direct employment
of labour and, in addition, the tender of the Lilleshall Company, Ltd., for the supply and delivery
for £1,043 of valve-seats, valves, etc., was accepted. The erection of a new economiser-house, with a
new fuel economiser to take the place of No. 1 fuel economiser which was worn out, has been completed
at a cost of £5,124.
Abbey Mills
pumping-
station.
In 1913, the Council authorised work preliminary to the alterations to the Worthington enginehouse
at Abbey Mills pumping station, including the erection of an annexe to which it was proposed to
remove the hydraulic machinery for the whole station. A contract for the supply of new hydraulic
machinery had been entered into before the war and it was necessary therefore to proceed without delay
with the erection of the annexe. This work was completed at a cost of about £4,620. Further work
in connection with the proposed alterations to this engine-house was however postponed owing to the
war. On 13th July, 1920, the Council approved an estimate of £95,000 for the continuation of the
work.
The pumps in the Worthington engine-house raise the sewage from the Isle of Dogs sewer and a
portion of that from the low level sewers. There are two engines which are badly worn and it is proposed
to instal five vertical engines and centrifugal pumps which will nearly double the present pumping power.
Two additional boilers will be required and these will be installed in the main boiler house.
The tender of Clayton, Son and Company, Limited, amounting to £5,446 was accepted for the
supply, delivery and erection of the boilers, subject to adjustment in respect of any variation in rates
of wages or cost of material or transport. Tenders were also invited for the supply of engines and pumps,
Only one tender amounting to £39,411, was received for the engines and three for the pumps. The
pumps offered were all unsuitable and invitations to other firms brought in one tender amounting to
£20,900. It was therefore decided to wait until market conditions were more favourable and there was
a better chance of obtaining competitive tenders. In the meantime it became necessary to repair the
present engines and this was authorised at a cost not exceeding £400.
The repair of the river wall of the station has been undertaken at an estimated cost of £300.
North
Woolwich
pumping
station and
rising main.
Owing to the increase in the quantity of sewage to be dealt with at North Woolwich pumpingstation,
principally due to the development of West Ham south of the Victoria and Albert Docks, the
Council on 17th December, 1912, decided to enlarge North Woolwich pumping station and to lay an additional
line of sewer between that station and the Northern outfall. The enlargement of the station was
completed in 1918, and advantage was taken of the opportunity afforded by the construction by the Port
of London Authority of the new dock in the vicinity to lay that part of the new sewer which would be
within the works of the Port Authority. Until the fine of the new rising main between the pumpingstation
and the outfall was completed no benefit could be derived from those works, and the Council on
16th March, 1920, approved an estimate of £30,000 for the purpose. For pipe founding four tenders
were received, all of equal amount, namely £27,072 10s. for pipes of ordinary section and £29,152 10s.
for pipes of special section thickened in the parts subject to heaviest wear. The coincidence that all
tenders were the same was discussed by the Council, and in Parliament, and the President of the Board
of Trade undertook to bring the matter before the Central Committee which was investigating the