View report page

73
4. RIVERS AND STREAMS.
The rivers and streams running through the area are tidal in character and are
not controlled by the Corporation.
A Joint Advisory Committee was set up by the Minister of Health and the
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries with the following terms of reference:—
"To consider and from time to time to report on the position with regard to
the pollution of rivers and streams, and on any legislative, administrative or other
measures which appear to be desirable for reducing pollution."
This Committee issued its report in July, 1937.
I note that under present legislation tidal waters of a stream are exempt from the
operation of the Rivers Pollution Prevention Acts, unless otherwise determined by
an Order made by the Ministry of Health.
River Roding.—In the Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health for
Barking for the year 1898, he referred to the River Roding in the following terms
"Of course in times of drought, such as prevailed during the summer of 1898,
the river's channel is converted into a stinking sewer, not much to the credit of
modern sanitary science or sanitary authorities."
In the year 1932 I referred to an outbreak of typhoid fever arising from
conditions in the River Roding in the following terms:—
"During the months of August and September bathing took place in the tidal
limits of the River Roding. Such bathing was followed by a minor epidemic of
enteric fever.
Two samples of water obtained from different locations in the river were
submitted for examination. The bacteriologist reported on these samples as
follows:—
1. This is a grossly contaminated river water, having the bacterial composition
of sewage effluent.
2. This is a grossly contaminated river water, having the bacterial composition
of sewage effluent. In addition typhoid bacilli could be isolated."