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94 Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
(2).—River Wandle and Graveney. These streams were the
subject of special reports to the Council, and these reports
were as follows : —
REPORT ON THE CONDITION OF THE RIVER
WANDLE.
The River Wandle enters the Borough at Summerstown, close
to the Corruganza Works and forms the boundary between the
Borough and the Urban District of Wimbledon until it reaches a
point opposite the foot of Groton Road. From that point to the
River Thames it forms the division between the Southfield and
the Springfield and Fairfield Wards.
From the Corruganza Works to the dam erected above the
outfall of the sewage from the Croydon Rural District the River
is fairly clean, as will be seen from the sample taken above the
dam, and the bed of the River does not, except at the dam itself,
seem to have much deposit. The only source of pollution is from
some of the bywashes and the overflow from the Wimbledon
Sewage Farm.
The effluent from the Croydon Rural District is, as will be
seen from the sample, a fairly clean one, and much freer from
sewage fungus than I have ever seen it. The effluent from the
Wimbledon Sewage Farm, a sample of which was also taken at the
same time, was also of a satisfactory character.
The River is dammed at this portion to supply water to
Messrs. Wickens, Pease & Co., and the mill-race on passing the
main stream runs at the rear of the houses in Summerley Street
under the railway.
At this point the water is more polluted and the bed of the
River full of mud and refuse owing to the fact that the body of
water is smaller and has not the same cleaning power and also to
the fact that the washings from Messrs. Wickens, Pease & Co.'s
works run into it at this point. This portion ought to be periodically
cleansed.
On the other side of the railway bridge pollution is being
caused by the discharge into the river of washings from the gas
factory belonging to the London and South-Western Railway
Company.