View report page

102
DRAINAGE AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL
The soil sewage from the Borough flows to the West Middlesex
Drainage Works at Mogden as it has done since 1936, when the last of the
five disposal works in the area went out of use.
There are still, however, a few properties in the northern part of the
district from which the sewage is treated in small disposal plants, otherwise
all the properties within the Borough are connected to the main drainage
system.
Surface water is disposed of by way of separate sewers that discharge
into local water courses. There are five of these: the River Pinn, the
Yeading Brook, the Kenton Brook, the Wealdstone Brook and the
Edgware Brook.
The rate of flow in these water courses varies with the amount of
rainfall and during sudden storms they may have to carry very large
volumes of water, while during drought the flow may be reduced to a mere
trickle.
PUBLIC CLEANSING
The cleansing services are under the administration and control of the
Borough Engineer and Surveyor.
The weekly collection service provided in the district is undertaken by
direct labour and involves the handling of over 82,000 bins. There was no
change in the method of disposal during the year, the collected refuse
being conveyed to Harefield where it was disposed of by tipping.
DISPOSAL OF THE DEAD
There are two cemeteries and five burial grounds situated in the
district which are administered by the Council. The grounds under the
control of the Church Authorities at Harrow, Roxeth, Pinner, Harrow
Weald, Great Stanmore and Whitchurch, apart from reopenings, have
little available space.
More than 650 bodies were interred in Council controlled cemeteries
and burial grounds during the year.
Mortuary
The mortuary for the district is situated in Peel Road and is under the
care of a full-time mortuary attendant. During the year 304 post-mortem
examinations were undertaken and inquests were held on 45.
SWIMMING BATHS
There are two open-air swimming baths in the district, one in Central
Harrow and one in Wealdstone. Attendances at the Harrow Baths were
78,326 and at Wealdstone 71,117.
The water in each bath is filtered and chlorinated and samples taken
at intervals throughout the season revealed a satisfactory standard was
maintained. In addition, daily tests were made by the Bath Superintendent.