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58
Within the tidal limits the River Roding receives the sewage effluents from the
works of three authorities, and higher upstream the effluents from the works of three
further authorities.
On no account should anyone bathe in the River Roding.
During the past five years much work has been done to improve the ditches
and streams in the district.
The culverting of streams by the local authority, extended cleansing of water
courses, carried out by the River Roding Catchment Board, and the reclamation of
marsh land by private tipping—each of these has contributed to a steady
improvement.
There is much low-lying land in Barking which is marshy in character, intersected
by small ditches and which offers ample scope for very profitable reclamation.
This is of particular importance in view of land values in the district.
I commend a scheme towards this end.
Existing powers safeguard the district from the evils usually associated with
crude tipping.
Loxford Water Closing.—Of special note is the diversion of the arm of Loxford
Water which during the year was diverted into a stream running into the River
Roding at a point immediately north of the Metropolitan Water Board Pumping
Station, the point of diversion being approximately 230 yards east from the
junction of this stream with the River Roding.
The closing of this watercourse has been advocated by my Department for a
number of years and power was taken in the Barking Corporation Act, 1933 to enable
this to be done.
It is with the greatest pleasure that I record the scheme reaching fruition.
It makes possible the reclamation of Berry's Marsh, removes a public nuisance
and adds land and land values to various sites in its immediate neighbourhood.
5. CLOSET ACCOMMODATION.
At the end of the year there remained a total of 14 premises unconnected with
the sewer. Seven of these were factory premises.
Of these 14 premises, 8 have cesspools and 6 have pail closets.
The premises still unconnected are isolated properties. Cleansing is carried
out by means of covered vehicles and suction pumps.