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10. RODENT CONTROL. The Rodent Control Service
which is confined to dealing with infestations by rats and mice has
continued to operate during the year under review. A staff of three
"Ministry trained" assistants has performed the necessary work.
No charge is made to householders in respect of treatment at
private dwelling houses but in all other cases a charge is made on a
time and materials basis. 831 premises were satisfactorily treated
by the Council and 2 premises were known to have been treated
privately.
11. RIVER POLLUTION. Regular sampling of the water
in the main water-courses in the Borough is carried out by the Rivers
Inspector employed by the Middlesex County Council and copies of
the Analyst's Reports arc received in the Department. When these
reports show that the river and streams in this area arc being polluted
by industrial or domestic waste, the investigation of this type of
complaint is difficult and extends over a long period of time. Most
of the industrialists in the town have been made aware through the
medium of Trade Effluent Agreements, that industrial waste should
be discharged into the soil sewer system. Occasions do, however,
arise, when through carelessness or ignorance industrial waste fluids
find their way into the surface water sewers and from there pollute
the river and streams. Where such pollution occurs in many cases
the source of pollution can quickly be found and repetitions prevented.
There are occasions when pollution by industrial waste appears to
occur very sporadically and the tracing of such sources gives considerable
difficulty and in some cases the problem is never solved.
There is very little pollution caused by householders and where this
occurs it is usually out of ignorance. Most residents arc aware that
the rainwater which falls on the roof of their houses is discharged
into a surface water sewer and thence to the nearest brook or stream,
but in a moment of forgetfulness a bucketful of soapy water or some
unwanted sump oil or other similar waste material, is poured into the
rainwater gully and, in consequence, pollutes the nearest stream.
These cases are particularly difficult to deal with but once the
source is found an explanation to the householder results in ready
compliance with our request for non-recurrence.
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