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48
SECTION IV.
SANITARY ADMINISTRATION.
Staff.—At the end of the year there were on the staff of the Sanitary Section
of the Department, one Chief Sanitary Inspector, twelve male inspectors and three
part-time female inspectors. This is an increase of two. Seven male inspectors
were engaged wholly on district work, two wholly on food inspection, one on inspection
of shops and food premises, one in charge of disinfection and disinfestation and
one on special housing work. The three part-time female inspectors were engaged
partly on health visiting and partly on sanitary inspection.
Water Supply.—The Metropolitan Water Board is responsible for the water
supply of the Borough, and no complaints were received as to the quality of the
water supply during the year.
Drainage .—Practically every house in the Borough is connected with the
water carriage system for the disposal of sewage. The exceptions are in the outlying
parts of Eltham. The number of cesspools at the end of the year was 18, 10 of which
were in Plumstead and 8 in Eltham.
The inspection of new drainage and of extensive reconstruction of old systems
is carried out by the Borough Engineer, but in all other cases alterations are
supervised by the Sanitary Inspectors. During the year, 59 complaints were
received regarding the defective action of combined drains; on investigation,
267 houses in all were found to be affected. In all systems, except five, the
obstruction was of a temporary character. In 14 instances choked interceptors
were found. Costs recovered from the owners amounted to £1 19s. 0d. In the
following 5 instances reconstruction was necessary, and the work was carried out
by the owners after the service of notices:— 101-105, Parkdale Road; 14-32,
Roydene Road; 120-124, Woolwich High Street; 70-71, Warwick Street;
312-322, Wickham Lane; 95-105, Genesta Road. Six single private drains were
cleared at the request of the owners from whom the costs, amounting to £1, were
recovered.
Condition of the River Thames.—During the summer months the Thames
was again offensive, and as in 1934, this was the subject of complaints, not only
from individuals, but also from the Woolwich Chamber of Commerce. London
sewage effluent is discharged into the river from two main outfalls belonging to the
London County Council, one on the north side near Barking Creek, and the other
at Crossness, both in close proximity to Woolwich. The odours which emanate
from time to time from the River Thames are a serious nuisance, and
representations in this respect were, in August, 1935, once again made to the London
County Council.