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186
was a further report on deodorization of sewer emanations, and
on sewer ventilation. In my annual report for 1887 I summarised
the contents of all of these reports (pages 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
Henry 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. Roscoe 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 previously 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."
The Report of the Committee was adopted by your Vestry,
as also was their recommendation, "That the system of pipe
ventilation be carried out in this Parish, where necessary and
practicable, as heretofore, and that all obstructions to the
ventilation of the sewers be removed by frequent removal of the
mud from the air openings in the gratings on the road level."