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161
with "The Deodorization of Sewage at the Outfalls." The
fourth report, dated March 3rd, 1888, treated of the deodorization
of sewer emanations by the use of sulphurous acid applied
at numerous stations within the Metropolitan area; while the
fifth was a further report on deodorization of sewer emanations,
and on sewer ventilation. In my last Annual Report I summarised
the contents of all of these reports (p. 231—240).
The reports had been referred by your Vestry to the
Works, Sanitary and General Purposes Committee for consideration.
The Committee reported on the subject to the
effect
a) "That having regard to the statement that 'the effects of the chemicals
used are imperceptible,' they doubt the propriety of continuing
the attempted deodorization of the sewage, as recommended by Sir
H. Roscoe, at a cost of £40,000 per annum; especially as it is
stated that this outlay will not prevent a foul condition of the
river occurring during the summer months, in drought or hot
weather, and as it had been previously stated by Sir H. Roscoe
that such an expenditure is not justifiable.
(b) "That as Sir H. Eoscoe is 'convinced that sooner or later the
recommendations of the Royal Commission on Metropolitan
Sewage Discharge will have to be adopted, and that the Sewage,
whether previeusly clarified or not, must either be filtered through
land or discharged into the Estuary at a point not higher than
the Sea Reach,' it would appear that the Board are proceeding
upon erroneous lines in dealing with the Sewage at the Outfalls,
and hence the great expenditure being incurred will have been
practically thrown away.
(c) "That the methods of deodorizing the emanations from Sewers, at an
annual cost of £11 or £12 for each station where it is applied,
appear to be practically unsuccessful, and therefore might as
well be discontinued.
(d) "That the best-known method of dealing with Sewer emanations is
by admitting air freely into the Sewers, to oxidize and dilute the
emanations, and by favouring the escape of foul air by free
openings in the roads, and by pipe ventilators carried above the
houses,"
M