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25
Rivers and Streams.—No action has been necessary to check
the pollution of rivers and streams. Periodical cleaning of Dagenham
Brook was carried out and certain works were carried out for the
Essex Sewers Commissioners.
Drainage, Sewerage and Sewage Disposal.—No extension
of the sewerage system other than minor ones necessitated by the
development of various building estates, were carried out.
Consequent on the publication of the 1931 Census figures the
permissible discharge of the London County Council Mains Drainage
System has been increased to 6,648,250 gallons per day.
The outlet from the storm-water beds at the Sewage Works
has been reconstructed in an improved form.
Closet Accommodation.—The number of premises draining
to cesspools has been increased by four (one a sports pavilion).
Fifty-five earth closets were in use at Sports Grounds at the end
of the year.
Scavenging and Refuse Disposal.—No alterations in the
former of the above services have been carried out. The purchase
of two house-refuse collection vehicles of an improved type, is at
present under consideration, tenders for these having been received.
With regard to refuse disposal, an additional (4-grate) unit
has been installed at the existing Destructor to act as a stand-by
when one or other of the original units is closed down for repairs or
inspection. This is capable of destroying 54 tons of crude refuse
per 24 hours. The house and trade refuse received at the Destructor
amounted to 25,800 tons.
Except in the case of the refuse destroyed in the new unit the
tins, metal, etc., were recovered from the refuse before destruction
and, so far as possible, sold.
Your Council decided to take legal proceedings against any
person found contravening Section 42 of the Public Health Act,
1875, which prohibits unauthorised persons from removing matter
from dustbins placed out for collection, a practice more popularly
known as "totting."
Warning posters were exhibited and the attention of the Police
and all Outdoor Staff of the Corporation was drawn to the matter.