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in course of construction from Hammersmith to Bow, that it will pass
through the City of Westminster, and it is hoped that it will very
considerably relieve the other main sewers in the district.
The City Engineer reports to the Council from time to time the
progress of his special survey of the sewers of the City.
Petroleum in Drains and Sewers.— I have referred in previous
reports to the danger which is caused by the discharge of petroleum
into drains. This is not solely due to negligence at premises licensed
for the storage of petroleum, but it is due also to its use by private
persons for cleaning purposes. There is good reason to believe that
much waste spirit is discharged into the drains from private premises,
and some of this finds its way into the sewers. The Public Control
Committee of the County Council insert conditions in licences granted
for the keeping of petroleum, and orders and notices by that body have
been served on licensees and others prohibiting such discharges info
sewers ; but at large garages and other premises some special precaution
is desirable, either by the provision of catch-pits unconnected with the
drain, or by the introduction of special intercepting chambers on the
surface drainage of the premises. The provision of such interceptors
has been secured at several large garages and other premises, whereby it
seems impossible with ordinary attention for any spirit to pass beyond
the interceptor. The County Council suggest this precaution in addition
to, and not in substitution for, the ordinary requirements as to
drainage. The apparatus consists of a tank about 3 feet square, having
the overflow taken by a pipe from the lower part of the tank; the
petroleum being lighter is thus retained in the upper pait of the tank.
In small garages one tank may be sufficient, in larger garages two or
more, according to the size of the garage and the amount of petroleum
which may find access to the surface drains. A chauffeur of Mount How,
Berkeley Square, was summoned by the London County Council, under
Section 5 of the Locomotives on Highways Act, 1890, for permitting
petrol to run into a drain, and was fined.
Proceedings were also taken against Queen Anne's Mansions
Company for permitting the discharge into the sewers of liquid refuse
above the temperature allowed by Section 9 of the London County
Council (General Powers) Act, 1904, and they were fined £10 and costs.
Watek Supply.
Applications were received for certificates that the water supply of
seven new buildings was sufficient, and were granted in each instance.
165 notices of withdrawal of water supply were received from the
Metropolitan Water Board, and in 103 instances it was reinstated.
Additional sources of water supply were provided to houses in 948
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