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56
SECTION IV.
SANITARY ADMINISTRATION.
Staff.—The staff of the Sanitary Section at the end of 1936 consisted of one
Chief Inspector, twelve male inspectors, one woman inspector and two part-time
women inspectors. There were two vacancies to be filled as the Council decided
shortly before the end of the year to appoint an additional sanitary inspector following
upon the opening of the new abattoir at Clothworkers Wood, and one part-time
woman inspector retired on superannuation at the end of November. An additional
two temporary inspectors were employed at the beginning of the year for a few
weeks in connection with the measurement of houses throughout the Borough,
rendered necessary by the overcrowding provisions of the Housing Act, 1936.
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. So far as can be ascertained there are eighteen wells
in the Borough, used in the main for trade or kindred purposes.
Drainage.—The drainage of every house in the Borough, except in eight
instances, is connected with sewers. These exceptions are to be found on Shooters
Hill, Bostall Heath, Harrow Manorway and Bexley Road, and in all cesspools are
used. The total number of cesspools is fourteen, seven of which are in Plumstead
and seven in Eltham.
The inspection of new drainage and of extensive re-construction of old systems
is carried out by the Borough Engineer, but in all other instances alterations are
supervised by the Sanitary Inspectors. During the year 42 complaints were received
regarding the defective action of combined drains; on investigation, 208 houses in
all were found to be affected. In all systems, except 5, the obstruction was of a
temporary character. In 13 instances choked interceptors were found. Costs
recovered from the owners amounted to £2 5s. 9d. In the following 5 instances
reconstruction was necessary:—80-94, Grangehill Road; 1-17, Tiliae Road; 1, la,
2 2a, Godfrey Villas and Pellipar Mission Hall, Godfrey Road; 107-133, Footscray
Road; 93-96, Brookhill Road. After service of the necessary notices and on receipt
of the consents of the owners, the work was carried out by the Works Department
of the Council, the costs being paid by the owners in their proper proportions.
Forty-nine orders for the cutting off and sealing up of drains, involving 235 houses,
were made during the year as a result of slum clearance operations.
Removal and Disposal of Refuse.—House refuse is collected and disposed
of by direct labour under the control of the Works Department of the Council.
Collection is made once weekly, with the exception of a small central area, where a
twice-weekly collection is made. All refuse is disposed of by burning at the Council s
destructor at White Hart Road, Plumstead.
Offensive trade refuse is removed by contractors, who make their own arrangements
with the shopkeepers as to the time and day of removal. The contractors