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of pollution of the Thames and its tributary, the Hogsmi11.
This latter river receives the effluents from the sewage
works within the boroughs of Maiden and Coombe, and Epsom
and Ewell. The proposed widening of the Hogsmill River
was not commenced during the year.
The number of boats used for human habitation
and which are moored within the borough boundary varies from
time to time, but seldom exceeds twenty. Control of these
craft by the Corporation is very limited as they do not
constitute 'houses' for all parts of the Public Health Act
1936. It is probable that some degree of pollution of the
river does arise as the result of the use of some of the
craft for human habitation, but appropriate action is
this respect can be taken only by the Thames Conservancy
Board
3. (i) CLOSET ACCOMODATION.
Without exception, all closets in the Borough
are on the water carriage system.
(ii) PUBLIC CLEANSING.
The collection and disposal of house and trade
refuse is the responsibility of the Borough Surveyor, who
states that, after salvable articles have been recovered,
the refuse is disposed of partly by burning and partly
by tipping, the proportions being approximately 30 to 70
respectively. Some 100 tons of materials are salvaged each
month, including waste food suitable for pig-feeding.
In pre-war years, much of the waste food was
deposited in the household refuse bins, where quite often
it proved to be a cause of nuisance and annoyance.
This fact is often forgotten by aggrieved occupiers of
houses who have reason to complain about waste food bins
placed in proximity to their houses. Until a more satisfactory
method of collecting the waste household food is
evolved, it will be necessary to continue the present method,
for it is inconceivable that this material should be burned
or be disposed of by tipping. Burning would be an expensive
method, and when it is tipped, it encourages the breeding of
rodents.
Complaints regarding the waste food bins were
received during the year, most of them during the short but
extremely hot spells of weather which occurred. In an effort
to bring about an improvement, arrangements were made for a
more frequent collection, and the system of cleansing, and
exchange of, food bins received close attention.
(iii) SANITARY INSPECTION OP THE AREA.