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Prior to the year 1911, Willesden was divided into two drainage areas for sewerage purposes,
known respectively as the Metropolitan and Brent areas, one forming the watershed of the River
Thames and the other that of the River Brent. The sewage of the houses in the Metropolitan area
drained into the sewers of the Metropolis, while the sewerage of the houses in the Brent was taken
to the sewage farm at Stonebridge and treated by chemical precipitation, the effluent being discharged
into the Brent. In 1911 satisfactory arrangements were made with the London County Council for
all of the sewage of the Brent area to be taken by gravitation into the London sewers, consequently
all the drainage and sewerage of Willesden is now discharged into the London sewers.
A few old settling tanks at the Sewage Farm have, however, been retained for the purpose of
storage of overflow water during periods of heavy rainfall.
Closet Accommodation.—With the exception of a few isolated cottages situated in the outlying
parts of the district, all of the houses are supplied with closets on the water carriage system.
Each house has at least one water closet, and in the better class tenement house there is generally
a water closet provided on each floor.
Scavenging.—Since the year 1919-20, the Health Department has not been responsible for
the removal and disposal of house refuse, that work having been taken over by the Surveyor's Department,
which now supervises the work both of collection and disposal.
Every house in the district is called at once in each week. Electrically operated vehicles are
used.
Quite 98 per cent, of the houses in the district are provided with movable receptacles.
Fixed receptacles in the older houses are rapidly decreasing in number, and during the next
two or three years should entirely disappear.
The disposal of house refuse is by contract.
The refuse is collected by the Council and tipped into barges on the Canal, one wharf being
situated in the Harrow Road in the Metropolitan Borough of Paddington, and the other one at Lower
Place in Willesden. It is conveyed in barges down the Canal, unloaded by the contractor and deposited
on land immediately adjoining the Canal.
Sanitary Inspection of the Area.
Tabular summary of the work oj the Sanitary Department during the year and action taken under
ihe Public Health Acts, Housing Act, etc.
Inspections:
Number of premises inspected on complaint 2,117
Number of premises inspected in connection with infectious diseases 69
Number of premises under periodical inspection 1,643
Houses inspected from House to House (Housing Act, 1925) 828
For Certificates under the Rent Acts 32
Public House Urinals 73
Mews and Stables 178
Miscellaneous 87
Total number of inspections and re-inspections made 18,595
Action under Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restriction) Acts, 1920-25.
Number of applications received for Certificates 32
Number of Certificates granted 16
Action Taken (under Housing and Health Acts) :
Cautionary or Intimation Notices Issued 3,067
Number complied with 2,745
Statutory Orders issued *263
Number complied with 107
Summonses served 2
Number of convictions obtained 1
Summonses withdrawn 0
,, dismissed 1
Houses Let in Lodgings (Tenement Houses):
Number registered under Bye-laws 0
Number of contraventions 0
Common Lodging Houses:
Number registered under Bye-laws 1
Number of Inspections made 18
Number of contraventions 2
Number remedied 2
* Majority issued late in year.