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114
River
Graveney.
The improvement of the river Graveney consisted in the formation of a concrete
aqueduct, partly open and partly covered, on the line of, or near to, the stream,
and the provision of a new aqueduct about half a mile long to form another connection
with the river Wandle. These measures should greatly facilitate the discharge
of storm water. The estimated cost of the work, including provision for land,
compensation and supervision is £230,000. A contract for the work was let to
Messrs. John Price and Son. Work was begun in June, 1921, and at the end of
1922 the greater part had been completed at a cost of about £146,500.
Wandle
Valley
sewer.
The Wandle Valley sewer is designed both as a soil sewer and a storm-water
sewer. Sewage will be carried into the intercepting sewers and so to the southern
outfall, while the storm water will be discharged by gravitation into the Wandle.
The sewer will be about 2⅓ miles in length, and, if necessary, can be extended to the
Thames. The cost will be about £219,000. A contract for the work was let to
W. G. Tarrant, Ltd., and a start was made in December, 1921. By the end of 1922
about half the work had been completed at an estimated cost of £75,522.
Charlton
storm relief
sewer.
The Charlton storm relief sewer is designed to afford relief to the southern highlevel
sewer. It will connect with the high-level sewer at Charlton and will be constructed
across Greenwich marshes to discharge storm water direct into the Thames.
Owing to the recent development of land for building in Woolwich and Lewisham
the construction of this sewer had become urgent. The cost, including the cost of
property and incidentals, will be about £160,000. For the construction of the sewer
itself the tender amounting to £128,452, upon a fixed price basis of S. Pearson and
Son (contracting department), Limited, was accepted by the Council in January,
1922, and work was begun in the following month. The time allowed for the work
was one year, but it is probable that this will be exceeded by about four months.
At the end of 1922 the estimated value of work executed was £60,865.
Flood relief
works at
Hammersmith.
The low-level area in west London comprises about 2,500 acres in Fulham,
Kensington and Hammersmith. The difficulty of draining this area is very great,
even when comparatively moderate rainfall is experienced. The difficulty is
accentuated when such rainfall coincides with the period of high water in the river.
No discharge by gravitation is then possible, and the storm water flows into the
two low-level sewers. The sewage in the low-level sewer No. 2 flows direct to Abbey
Mills pumping station, while that in the low-level sewer No. 1 is pumped at the Lotsroad
and the Western pumping stations. In recent years the rapidity with which
the rain water reaches these sewers has increased greatly. Any scheme for relief
works must provide for the discharge of storm water by pumping. The relief scheme
provides for the construction of a sewer about a mile in length having an outlet to the
Thames near Hammersmith Bridge, and the erection of a new pumping station near
toe outlet. The sewer itself should be constructed in one year, but the building
of the pumping station may take two years, and the construction of the machinery
anything from two to three years. This last period may be reduced. The original
estimate for the whole work, including the acquisition of the property, etc., was
£500,000, but in view of the fall in prices the Council on 25th July, 1922, reduced the
estimate to £360,000. A contract was let to Messrs. Kinnear, Moodie and Co.,
for the construction of the sewer for the sum of £145,220 upon a fixed price basis.
Work was begun in December, 1921, and at the end of 1922 work to the value of
£112,614 had been completed. The tender of Gwynne's Engineering Company,
Ltd., amounting to £58,473 for five sets of engines and pumps was accepted on
17th February, 1922. Permission was given for the company to sublet the main
and auxiliary engines to the Premier Gas Engine Company, Ltd. The order to
commence work was given on 3rd May, 1922, and at the end of the year work to the
value of about £12,000 had been completed. The motive power adopted for the
engines is gas and special arrangements for supply were entered into with the Brentford
Gas Company. The mains near the station were insufficient to supply the
station and a new main is being laid in respect of which the Council has agreed to pay