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26
DRAINS IN HOUSE CELLARS.
Attention has been recently drawn to complaints of bad smells
arising from cellars, where it has been found necessary by the builders
to make a communication with the sewer for the purpose of drainage.
On inspection of these houses, where complaints have arisen, and also
in a large number of others, I have found that the mischief arises from
the fact that the drain has become untrapped.
I would caution householders that the traps of these drains must,
to be effective, contain water, and I trust that they will see the necessity
of frequently examining them to see that is the case.
I may add that in some roads the depth of the cellar precludes any
drainage into the surface-water drain, and therefore it must be drained
into the sewer.
COMBINED DRAINAGE.
As this subject has assumed very considerable importance, I
wish to take this opportunity of saying that, to my mind, the system
of combined drainage, so commonly used in the houses being erected
in our district, is open to considerable doubt.
The following points appear to me to be of great importance
in discussing the problems connected with this question:—
1.—The difficulty of investigating and abating of nuisances.
In some cases many owners are implicated, one being willing
to rectify the defects, and a neighbour refusing to assist in
the matter. This necessitates stringent measures, which,
unfortunately, cannot legally be carried out without considerable
delay, the nuisance in the meanwhile being a source
of danger to the health of the inmates of the house.
Moreover, this investigation by the Sanitary Staff does not
only apply to the nuisance, but also is directed to determine
the ownership of the various houses whose drains are combined,
a matter of considerable delay, and really a necessary
proceeding to be gone through before any legal process can
be taken.
2.—As the law now stands it is distinctly advisable to have a
separate drain to each house. This throws the responsibility
upon the proper party, and makes the rectification of sanitary
defects a much quicker process.
I am certainly of opinion that these single drains,
laid in accordance with your Bye-laws and those of the Local
Government Board, being properly supervised by your