London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Harrow 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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19
During the summer months of 1938 considerable trouble was
experienced with the pollution of the watercourses in the district
and a special organisation was formed by the Department to deal
with this problem. The work entailed an investigation and
examination in detail of the whole main drainage and sewerage
system of the district. The investigation was commenced in
June of last year and the first inspection has now been completed,
with the result that 750 sanitary defects were disclosed and in all
instances these have now been put in order.
Section No. 4 of the Moat Farm scheme is well in hand and
should be completed by the autumn of this year. This section,
in conjunction with Section No. 1, is the most important of the
scheme. The section in hand will extend the culvert from the
Moat Farm to Weald Lane where it will intercept the flow from
the Harrow Weald area sewers and prevent the overloading of
the old Wealdstone surface water system. It should, when
complete, obviate the flooding that has been experienced in the
Wealdstone area from time to time.
Rainfall.
During the year 1938-39 rain fell on 151 days against 138 days during 1937-38.
| April-March. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year 1937-38. | Year 1938-39. | |
| Total Rainfall | 22.77 ins. | 22.98 ins. |
| Average per month | 1.90 ins. | 1.915 ins. |
| Wettest month | (May & Dec.) 3.18 ins. | (June) 4.58 ins. |
| Driest month | (Feb.) 0.36 ins. | (April) 0.23 ins. |
General.
In accordance with the requirements of the Public Health
(Consolidation) Act of 1936 a complete survey of the sewers has
been made and plans completed showing the whole of the main
drainage of the district.
WATERCOURSES.
During the summer months complaints were received regarding
sewage pollution of the watercourses. Investigation showed that
there were three main causes of pollution:—Blocking of the
interceptor traps leading to foul water entering the surface water
sewers; wrong connections, the soil drains being connected to
the surface water sewers; and connection of bath and sink wastes
to the surface water drains.
The first cause, namely, the blocking of the interceptor traps,
was a frequent occurrence in the Wealdstone area where the
surface water drains run through the soil manholes, intercepting
traps being inserted on both surface water and soil drains. On