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74
I want now again to express my horror and alarm at the conditions prevalent
in this river. Recent analyses have shown that in times of drought the water in
the river is almost completely sewage effluent.
The discharge of sewage or factory effluent is not an offence, if the best practical
and available means are used to render the effluent harmless.
In view of the fact that a number of sewage works discharge their effluents
into the River Roding and that at times the Roding is a carrier of disease, it is, in
my opinion, imperative that every possible precaution should be taken to make
quite sure that these effluents comply with the conditions referred to in my previous
paragraph.
Even with this precaution, I think the Roding may still be contaminated other
than from sewage works owned by local authorities. All these points of possible
contamination require investigation and supervision.
I note that the Essex County Council have eight representatives on the River
Roding Catchment Board and am hopeful that progress will be made in the direction
I have indicated.
5. CLOSET ACCOMMODATION.
At the end of the year there remained a total of 17 premises unconnected with
the sewer. Eleven of these were factory premises.
Of these 17 premises, 7 have cesspools, 9 have earth closets, and one has a
sewage disposal plant (septic tank and percolating filter).
The premises still unconnected are isolated properties. Cleansing is carried
out by means of covered vehicles and suction pumps.
6. PUBLIC CLEANSING.
(a) Storage, Collection and Disposal.—The collection and disposal of domestic
refuse is controlled by the Borough Engineer and Surveyor,