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sewage being eventually collected at Dartford, where, after purification.
it is discharged into the Thames.
The Sewers are ventilated by means of man-holes opening on
the surface of the streets and by shafts carried several feet above
the level of the ground.
Cesspools:—
In the year 1882 and subsequent years the sewering of the Dis
trict was carried out and the old system of house drainage to Cess
pools was practically abandoned. Isolated houses which were too
far from the Sewer continued to be drained to a Cesspool, but as
the District extended and new roads and sewers were laid these
gradually were connected up to the Sewers.
At the present time there are 8 houses in the District connected
to a cesspit, and these are in every instance beyond the legal distance
within which the Owners can be called upon to connect them
with the District Sewers. All Cesspools are properly constructed
and cleansed when necessary.
RIVERS AND STREAMS.
Beckenham is intersected or bordered by four main streams, the
Birkbeck Stream, Chaffinch Brook, Beck River (these three joining
to form the Poole River), and the Ravensbourne River, into which
latter the Poole River discharges at Lewisham. Into these main
streams or their tributaries the whole of the surface water of
Beckenham is discharged, either by open ditches or, in the case of
roads, by pipe drains.
Pollution of Streams.
With the exceptions mentioned below, the streams as a whole
are clean, the water is clear and free from suspended matters which
putrify or cause offence. There are no industries in the area which
turn out waste or dye waters that would lead to pollution of the
streams.