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SEWERAGE AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL
Sewerage and sewage disposal in the City of London are the responsibility of the City
Engineer who has supplied the following information:—
"The sewerage system in the City is comprised mainly of ovoid shaped brie k sewers, the
average internal dimensions being 4 feet high x 2 feet 8 inches wide, this size being adopted
only to provide access for sewermen, as the normal dry weather flow depth of effluent is only
about 9 inches at an average velocity of 2 to 3 feet per second.
The Corporation sewers discharge into the Greater London Council intercepting sewers
which flow eastwards across the City at a much lower depth to their Beckton Sewage Treatment
Works.
In my opinion, the system of sewerage in the City is adequate, with ample margin for diverting
flows from sewers during reconstruction and maintenance works."
SMOKE NUISANCES
City of London (Various Powers) Act, 1954.
Clean Air Act, 1956.
74 complaints were investigated by Public Health Inspectors during the year and nuisances
were found to emanate from the following sources:—
1. Oil fired furnaces 48
2. Solid fuel furnaces 13
3. Bonfires 8
The main cause of nuisances in 1 and 2 was inadequate maintenance of equipment and the
required improvement was effected informally in all cases. Bonfire nuisances arose from the
burning of debris on demolition sites and were dealt with informally under Section 16 of the Clean
Air Act, 1956.
The reduction in the number of complaints is significant and affords an encouraging recognition
of the attempts which have been made within the City to reach the goal of a smokeless
atmosphere.
NOISE
Noise was one of the main causes of complaint during the year. It emanated mainly from
building sites and demolition projects. The individual sources were pneumatic drills, pile drivers,
compressors and other contract machinery.
When investigating the cause of these complaints it was found necessary to judge each case
on its merits and assess various levels for various types of complaint. These ranged from interruptions
of telephone messages during the day to sleepless nights experienced by housekeepers
of a number of office premises.
Numerous visits were made during the year during the hours of darkness and in some cases
extended to the "early hours". In all cases it was possible to abate the nuisance by negotiation.
The method of abatement included confining the period of noise emission to reasonable working
hours and generally lessening intensity by means of baffles and shielding.
Fifty-three complaints were received, mostly involving the larger building projects. Demolition
was the chief source of complaint.
COMMON LODGING HOUSES
The only common lodging house in the City is situated at 116 Middlesex Street and is owned
and managed by the Salvation Army. The premises consist of six floors which house four hundred
and twenty men and a basement supplying canteen facilities for the residents. A keeper and
deputy keeper are resident.
Repair, maintenance and decoration are carried out as continuous operations, the standard of
which is high. Bedding is changed after every user or weekly.
Insect infestation of the inmates is kept to a minimum by frequent 'spot' checks, and cleansing
is carried out at the City's Mortuary and Disinfecting Station, Milton Court. An added problem
in this respect is that no proper transport is provided to collect and deliver infested find clean
articles and personnel.
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