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Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
143
(1) That the closing of surface sewer ventilators in
response to complaints increases the general evil, the diminution
of which is to be attained by the multiplication of the
ventilators, at regular frequent intervals.
(2) That in connection with any interceptor hereafter
fixed on a main house drain, it is advisable to carry a ventilating
pipe from the sewer side of the interceptor, up the front,
side, or back of the house, to the satisfaction of the Local
Sanitary Authority, and that the outlet drain from the interceptor
shall not be flap-trapped in sewer unless required by
the Local Sanitary Authority.
(3) That pipe ventilators up buildings, or otherwise,
where possible, should always be adopted in addition to
surface ventilation.
Similar resolutions were passed at a Conference of representatives
of South London Vestries (including members and
surveyors), held at the Camberwell Town Hall in May, 1898,
with the following addition after the word "ventilators" in the
1st resolution:—"both surface and upcast shafts."
When we first came into the district we found that many of
the manholes on the sewers were provided with cess-pits with the
object of intercepting solid matters, these were a veritable source
of nuisance and we filled them up and substituted pipe channels
of the same diameter as the sewers.
In conclusion we are of opinion that each house should bear
its share in ventilating the sewers, whether by means of soil pipes
or special pipes as recommended (resolution 2) by the Conference
above referred to, but preferably by the former, that the number
of surface ventilators and upcast shafts should be increased and
that special means of ventilation, as suggested above, should be
provided on the main lines of sewers
We would recommend that as an experiment, a small estate
should be treated on these lines, i.e: —
The sewer cut off from the main sewer and properly
ventilated.
The house drains connected direct to the sewers with
inspection chambers at the out-go and the levels so arranged