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Instructions were also given to prepare plans, etc., for the provision
of sewers in Old Farleigh Road and Beech Way, Selsdon, but no action
had been taken in regard thereto at the end of the year.
Estate developers also continued to provide sewers on private
estates.
The sewage of this District is disposed of by the County Borough
of Croydon and the West Kent Main Drainage Board.
In February a test was carried out to see whether sewage matter
deposited on the ground at Farleigh Court Farm was liable to contaminate
the Addington wells of the Croydon Corporation. Eight tons of salt
were washed into the ground immediately below the irrigation bed,
but although the saline solution was absorbed rapidly and in a manner
to suggest the presence of fissured chalk, no evidence of the salt appeared
in the well water during the following ten days. The point is of interest
as the bed approximates to a line between the wells and the "swallow
hole" at the adjoining but more distant Mental Hospital which had
been shown to inter-connect about 30 years ago.
CLOSET ACCOMMODATION.
Nearly the whole of the District is on the water carriage system
and the number of cesspools is gradually diminishing as new sewers are
laid. Practically all premises are provided with water closets except
for certain isolated buildings in public and private recreation grounds
together with a small number of dwelling houses. The buildings in the
public recreation grounds are of a temporary nature. Where more
permanent buildings are erected the drains are connected to a sewer, if
available, and if not, are connected to cesspools.
During the year 1 pail closet was converted to a water closet.
The approximate numbers of each type remaining at the end of
the year were:—
Premises with water closets drained to sewers 15,064
„ ,, ,, „ „ ,, cesspools. 243
,, „ earth closets 1
,, pail closets 66
During the year 32 cesspools were abolished, the total number of
cesspools throughout the District being approximately 217 at the end
of the year.
PUBLIC CLEANSING.
The collection of house and trade refuse has proceeded on similar
lines to those in the previous year. In most parts of the District there
is a weekly collection, and in some cases twice weekly where for special
reasons the circumstances require it. The first bin of trade refuse is
removed without charge, and any remaining bins of similar refuse at
6d. per bin.
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