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Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health—1897.
27
Supplementary Report.
It will be within the memory of the Vestry that in compliance with the request
of the Public Health and Sewers Committee. I reported, on the 19th ultimo, as to the
insanitary condition of Wilfrid, Lawrance and Edward Houses, three lofty blocks of
tenements situated in a narrow street known as Potier Place, Bermondsey New Road.
At the same time I threw out. certain suggestions—asked for by your Committee—
with a view to improvement in the bad system now in vogue of dust-disposal, and in
other matters of importance connected with these dwellings.
When I submitted my report to your Health and Sewers Committee, I promised
to supplement it by furnishing you with some account of the condition of the drainage
system of the blocks in question. With this object in view, the house drains have
now been opened up and tested, with the result that official notices have been already
served upon the owners calling upon them "to take up and entirely reconstruct the
said drains with the best stoneware pipes, properly cemented and laid on Portland
cement conerete. The drains to be laid perfectly even, with a fall of not less
than 1 in 30, and to be covered with Portland cement concrete;" also, "a
suitable disconnecting syphon with air inlet, as near the street drain as practicable,"
to be supplied. Mr. Winter, your Surveyor, informs me that the Vestry's
sewer in Potier Place, into which Edward, Lawrance and Wilfrid Houses drain
is "according to the Parish Drainage Map, a 9-in pipe sewer about 8 feet
in depth. It discharges into the County Council's main sewer in Bermondsey
New Road, and continues up Potier Place for a distance of about 200 feet.'' On
examination I find that the Potier Street sewer is unprovided with any means, save
by street gullies, of ventilation or of flushing. In view of the doubt recently thrown
on the Parish Drainage Map I would strongly advise that steps be taken to ascertain
the exact State of this sewer. We know, as I have already said, that it has neither
ventilation nor flush, and as it appears to be an old sewer, its condition should be
forthwith investigated. I can, therefore, with confidence, advise that the following
suggestions be carried out, namely:—
(1) The immediate opening up of the Potier Street sewer in order to decide
whether or not it is properly jointed and laid with a sufficient fall towards the
Council's main sewer.
(2) In any case the blind end of the sewer to be provided with an automatic
flushing tank to discharge 400 gallons of water at a time.
(3) Or in lieu of the flushing tank a 6-in. stoneware pipe with lid to be laid
vertically to join blind end of sewer by means of which water may from time to time
flush sewer from a 400 gallon water van, and
(4) A 6-in. iron ventilating shaft in connection with the end of the sewer to be
erected (if permission be granted) outside the leather factory adjoining Edward
House.
(The Vestry has resolved to carry out all the above suggestions.)