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14
Chemical examination of the water showed a definite acidity.
Investigation showed that a manufacturing concern in the
neighbourhood had as the result of one of their largest manufacturing
processes a highly coloured acid effluent, the acidity at times being
as high as 25%. This effluent could not be taken into the sewers
either on account of the acidity or the colour. Nor could the
colour be separated by any then known process, so that the acid
content could be utilized or even neutralized and discharged into
the sewers. In order to overcome the difficulty, the effluent was
discharged into a deep soak away in the gravel, as it was found
that the action of the effluent on ordinary soil was to produce a
colloidal film and ponding without percolation. Gravel alone
seemed to have the capacity to discharge the colour. As the
result of the pumping there was no doubt that flow had been
produced in the subsoil water from the works involved, and the
acid had caused the trouble complained of. The firm involved
solved the dairyman's difficulty, by installing a complete
refrigerating plant. The dairyman's need of his well for cooling is
due to the fact that in the summer the temperature of the water
in the mains is such that it is impossible to use it for cooling
purposes. The firm involved commenced a special research to find
some n.eans of discharging the colour which was ultimately
successful, and a plant is being designed to accomplish this and
neutralize the acidity with another alkaline by-product and so
produce an innocuous effluent.
1. Meat Inspection.—The Chief Sanitary and the District
Sanitary Inspectors hold special certificates for meat inspection.
Slaughter-houses and butchers' shops are visited periodically, but
during the year no diseased meat was seized, but 117 lbs. was
surrendered. There are 8 slaughter-houses and 27 butchers' shops
in the district. Each slaughter-house received on an average 2.55
visits per month ; there is therefore room for improvement.
2. Public Abattoir.—There is no public abattoir in the district
nor are there any arrangements for meat being inspected at the
time of slaughter. Killing may take place any time.
3. Action under Section 117, Public Health Act, 1875.—None
during 1923.