View report page

9
There are 4 contact beds and 5 percolating filters
with revolving distributors, and during the year an additional
one has been commenced, and is now approaching
completion.
The plant at the Works consists of:—
1 50 h.p. gas engine, working air compressors.
2 45 h.p. electrically driven air compressors.
2 6in. and 1 4in. electrically driven centrifugal
pumps for lifting the effluent from the
septic tank to the filters.
1 4in. electrically driven portable pump for lifting
sludge to lagoons constructed on new
land.
and "Pressure" gas producing plant in duplicate
for working the gas engine.
The Port of London Authority periodically take
samples of the effluent from these Works for the purpose
of Analysis; but for many years past there has been no
complaint made as to the quality of the effluent discharged
into the River Thames.
There are still a few houses in Erith connected to an
old brick sewer, which discharges direct into the River
Thames. As opportunity arises, these houses are gradually
being disconnected from this old sewer, and after
reconstruction of the drainage, connected to the new
sewer; 11 houses were so connected during 1915.
There are a number of houses situated on the Marshes
where no sewer is available for their drainage, and these
are, in the majority of cases, drained into cesspools. At
the upper portion of Abbey Wood there are also a number
of houses drained into cesspools owing to there being no
sewer available. All these cesspools are emptied by the
Council when necessary, on notice of the same being
given by the tenant of the house.
During the winter and wet weather the cesspools on
the Marshes are a constant source of trouble and nuisance.
Not only does the condition of the Marshes render it
extremely difficult, and sometimes almost impossible for
the cesspool emptying vans to reach thos spots where
the cesspool matter may be deposited, but in many cases
the cesspools are not water-tight, and when the marsh
ground is waterlogged, the cesspools, after being emptied,
rapidly fill again with marsh water through the
cracks in the sides and bottoms of the cesspools.