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June to the middle of September further satisfactory samples were
taken, but on the 12th September the report was unsatisfactory, and in
November two samples were again unsatisfactory.
This fluctuation in the quality of the water is a very undesirable
feature and the Council have been in communication with the Company
with regard to the matter.
During the year 19 samples of water were submitted for examination.
In addition, 44 samples of the East Surrey Water Company's
and the Sutton and District Water Company's supplies were examined
for hardness by the Medical Officer of Health. The statutory limit for
hardness in these waters is 9 degrees, which in no case was exceeded.
The private supply has about 26 degrees of hardness.
The source of the water supply is from deep wells sunk into the
chalk in various parts of this and adjoining districts.
CLOSET ACCOMMODATION.
The major portion of the District is on the water carriage system
connected to the public sewers. In the more rural parts of the District
a number of houses are drained into cesspools, but these are being
abolished as new sewers are provided. In most of these cases the houses
are already provided with water closets.
During the year one pail closet was converted to a water closet,
one pail closet was abolished through the demolition of the building,
and one privy was also abolished. Eleven cesspools were abolished,
and the drains of 12 houses connected to the public sewer. One common
cesspool was situated outside the District, but the house connected with
it now drains to the sewer.
The approximate number of each type remaining at the end of
the year were:—
Water closets drained to sewers 12,627
Water closets drained to cesspools 372
Earth closets 2
Pail closets 52
The total number of cesspools throughout the District is approximately
348.
PUBLIC CLEANSING.
No difficulties have arisen in dealing with the collection of house
and trade refuse in the District, but owing to the considerable increase
in the volume of house refuse it is proposed to construct two additional
cells at the Refuse Disposal Works.
The emptying of cesspools has been continued by the Council's
tanks upon the usual application and payment of charges.
The contents of the cesspools are, for the most part, disposed of
in the public sewers, but in cases where the cesspools are emptied
privately, the sewage is spread over the surface of the ground,
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