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26
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES.
Section C.
1. (i) Water.
The water supply of the town is furnished by the
Metropolitan water Board, and has been satisfactory in
quality and quantity. Bacteriological and Chemical
examination of the piped supply are carried out by the
Board, arid it was no found necessary to refer to the
Board during 1945 in regard to any specific complaint.
Comparatively few shallow wells remain in the town
there being only 19 premises known to be supplied with well
water at the end of 1945.
(ii ) Drainage and Sewerage .
There were no main drainage works undertaken during
the year.
2. RIVERS AND STREAMS.
The effluent from the Corporation Sewage Disposal
Works is discharged into the Thames. Owing to the loss
of that area formerly occupied by the filter beds to the
new Electricity works, it has been found necessary to
further chlorinate the effluent before it is discharged
into the Thames. Every endeavour has been made to maintain
a standard of purification satisfactory to the Thames
Conservancy Board, which is the body responsible for
checking pollution of the Thames and its tributaries.
The Hogsmill River is one such tributary. It flows
through the Southern part of the Borough and joins the
Thames at a point a short distance above Kingston Bridge.
The Hogsmill River receives sewage effluents from Maiden and
Epsom and Ewell, at points before reaching the Borough
boundary,, A scheme for widening the Hogsmill River was
prepared by the Surrey County Council prior to the outbreak
of war when the plans were suspended.
During the year one case of river pollution was
reported by the Thames Conservancy Board. It was stated
that numerous fish had been killed by cyanide poisoning.
The Beard sought assistance in tracing the source of contamination
.
Investigations were made and it was ascertained
that a vat containing cyanide solution used in connection
with metal processes at a factory had been emptied and
cleaned out at a time which approximated very closely to
the estimated period of contamination of the river. The
contents of the vat had improperly been discharged into the
sewerage system, thus allowing the cyanide to contaminate
the sewage effluent which is discharged into the river.
The occupiers of the factory were immediately notified of
the results of their action and were advised how safely to
dispose of the solution in future. No further complaint
has since been received.