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50
Deposit Gauges
Two deposit gauges were installed at the same sites as the sulphur
dioxide gauges. These consist of large glass bowls which collect
all solid matter falling from the air, together with any rain. By
a process of analysis the constituents of the solid matter can be
assessed quantatively. These results are particularly useful in
giving an indication of the fall-out of cement flue dust. Their use
is limited in that they can only be operated on a monthly basis.
The effect is that information regarding a particular incident cannot
be made available for a period of from one to two months afterwards.
The gauge at Riverside Road was damaged at the same time
as the S02 candle there, and it was not possible to restore it to
use until August. Figures for the gauge at Lamorbey for the
month of November had to be disregarded due to suspected contamination
of the contents.
Recordings for 1962 reveal the maximum deposit of "total
solids" was 20.84 tons per square mile for the month of October,
at Lamorbey, whilst the lowest reading for the year was at Riverside
Road in the month of September, when 6.62 tons per square
mile was deposited.
These results are sent to the Department of Scientific and
Industrial Research, where they are studied along with similar
data from other areas throughout the country.
It was found that the figures at the Lamorbey Station were
consistently higher than at Riverside Road, the average monthly
product for the former being 14.01 tons per sq. mile (12.37 in
1961) and for the latter 12.85 tons (12.89 in 1961).
It will be noted that the figures for October are high. During
the early part of that month many complaints were received concerning
the excessive deposition of cement flue dust. The matter
was taken up with the Chief Inspector of Alkali, etc., Works, and
it appears to have been due to a combination of failure of a precipitator
at one of the cement factories, the use of unsatisfactory
raw materials and the prevailing weather.
The question of cement flue dust deposit in North West Kent
continues to be a vexed one. This Council, along with those from
other affected areas, belong to the Thames-side Joint Committee
for the Abatement of Atmospheric Pollution, whose purpose it is
to substantially reduce or abolish this nuisance. The Committee,
on which the Council was represented by the Chairman of the Public
Health Committee (Mr. F. Ambrose) and Mr. A. V. Hatley, has
been active and following the failure to secure Government action,
the possibility of instituting legal proceedings is being investigated.