View report page

52
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 Inspector, twelve male inspectors, one woman
inspector, three temporary inspectors, and three part-time women inspectors.
Six male inspectors were engaged wholly on district work, one mainly on district
work but partly on duties in connection with the sale of poisons by listed sellers,
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 women inspectors were engaged partly on health visiting and partly
on sanitary inspection, and the woman inspector in general sanitary inspection.
Three temporary inspectors were engaged on district work from August onwards,
in order that the regular inspectors might supervise the measuring, by temporary
assistants, of houses throughout the Borough, rendered necessary by the provisions
of the Housing Act of 1935.
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 the Borough. The number of cesspools at the end of the year
was 12, 5 of which were in Plumstead and 7 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 47 complaints were received
regarding the defective action of combined drains ; on investigation, 299 houses
in all were found to be affected. In all systems, except 7, the obstruction was
of a temporary character. In 18 instances choked interceptors were found. Costs
recovered from the owners amounted to £4 17s. 5d. In the following 7 instances
reconstruction was necessary : 83-89, Sand Street; 33-42, Taylor Street; 1-9,
High Street, North Woolwich ; and 137-147, Albert Road ; 187-195, Plumstead
High Street ; 33-43, Grasdene Road ; 137, Albert Road, and 7 High Street, North
Woolwich ; and 31-43, Cantwell Road. After service of the necessary notices
and on receipt of the consents of the owners, the work was carried out by the Works