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Drainage and Sewerage.
During the year 48 plans of drainage work to new and existing buildings were
submitted and approved.
River Pollution.
Various complaints were received regarding wide spread offensive smells on
the Isle of Dogs. On investigation it was found that the smells emanated from
the River Thames and that they were strongest at high tide. The River Thames has
a fairly high sulphate content from the head waters with further additions from
estuarine sources and also an almost saturated effluent from two flue gas washing
plants at Battersea and Bankside which result in a very high sulphate level.
In the middle reaches which are largely anaerobic due to an excessive number
of bacteria from sewage and other polluting sources the high sulphate content
encourages and supports the growth of 'sulphate reducing' organisms which cause
the smell and blackness and other effects by producing hydrogen sulphide.
Flooding.
As a result of extensive rainfall on Friday 21st August and Saturday the
22nd a considerable amount of flooding took place in various parts of the Borough. In
some properties over 3 ft. of water was experienced. As a result of the chaos
caused, members of the department were fully occupied with dealing with this
situation until late at night.
Requests for assistance in drying of bedding were received from eight families
and some hundred and fifty articles were put through the disinfecting machines
including eleven mattresses.
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