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16
Drainage and Drain Testing.—The drains of 127 premises have
been examined and tested, and it has been necessary to re-construct
the same.
In most cases they were found to be very faulty, owing to the
pipes having insufficient fall, being badly jointed, and having no
ventilation.
The work of drain testing has not by any means been confined
to cottage property, several large houses having been dealt with
during the year, and it is possible that an increase of work in this
direction will take place in the future.
The water test is still applied to all new drains.
A large number of visits have had to be made to the various
houses, and I have had great difficulty in coping with this work.
Owing to most of the premises being occupied during the reconstruction,
it is necessary to test the drains in sections, so as to
cause as little inconvenience to the occupiers as possible.
I am glad to say that the Owners fall in with the view of
providing a large number of inspection chambers to the drains, and
this will no doubt assist them very materially in removing any
obstruction that may occur, and do away with the usual tapping of
pipes, which, to say the least, is a dangerous practice.
During the time I have been in the service of your Council,
272 houses have been re-drained, and it has been found necessary
to serve only 14 statutory notices, a fact I think that speaks for
itself, and in no case have legal proceedings been resorted to.
The work in connection with the 33 premises outstanding in
my last report, has been completed.
The drainage to a further 86 premises has been re-constructed
during the year, and at 29 other premises the work of re-construction
is well in hand.
The manner in which the drainage of the 119 premises has been
dealt with is as follows:—
90 premises were re-drained by Verbal notice or by corresponding
with the Owners.
9 by preliminary notices.
10 by legal notices.
In addition to the above drainage work, reports were made to
your Council on houses on the line of the Crofton New Sewer.
Most of these are now connected to this sewer, the work being
done under the supervision of your Surveyor, Mr. W. J. Winter.