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SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA.
STATISTICS. These will be found in the Appendix.
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS. The rainfall for the year was
19.94" compared with 22.94" for the previous year. Barking is
fortunate in being in one of the driest areas of the country,but
is unfortunate in the fact that it suffers from atmospheric
pollution, to which reference is made on pages , so
that people living in the Borough are unable to get the maximum
benefit from the sunshine available.
WATER SUPPLY. There has been no change in the chemical
quality of the water supply to the Borough, nor has there been
any major extension of services. All the samples submitted,
monthly for bacteriological examination and quarterly for chemical
examination, have been found to be pure and wholesome. We still
have need to complain of the hardness of the supply.
RIVERS AND STREAMS. There was no serious flooding arising
from any overflow of the rivers and streams in the Borough, but we
did receive complaints as to the condition of the Mayesbrook watercourse,
the River Roding and the River Thames.
Negotiations were completed with the River Roding Catchment
Board, the East Ham Corporation and frontagers for the filling
in of the watercourse, known for a groat number of years as
the Back River, which forms a boundary with East Ham on the
western side of the Borough. The length of this stream was 740
yards. It is with pleasure I report the completion of this
work, which resolved a nuisance which had existed for a number of
years.
During the year it was necessary to consult with the Essex
County Council with regard to the pollution of the River Roding,
and an inspection of tho Sewage Works delivering into that River
was made in co-operation with their Officers. We were advised
later of some necessary improvements which had been made at one
of the Works.
The offensive smells arising from the River Thames, and
associated with the discharge of sewage effluents into the River,
continued, and whilst there was no further deterioration in the
chemical content of the River water, it was not possible to report
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