View report page

SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE BOROUGH
Water Supply and Water Services
Water is supplied to nearly the whole of the district by the South-West Suburban
Water Company. The Metropolitan Water Board supplies a small area in the southern part
of the district, and the Rickmansworth & Uxbridge Valley Water Company a small area in
the northern part. The supply is satisfactory, both in quality and quantity. Reports on
sampling carried out by the Metropolitan Water Board are issued from time to time. All
inhabited houses are supplied from public water mains and there are no standpipes in use
on mains.
Under Section 35, Middlesex County Council Act, 1956, provision is made for immediate
action to be taken by the Local Authority to restore a water supply which has been cut off
for some default.
Two samples of factory drinking water were taken by Departmental staff and found to
be satisfactory.
In addition 19 samples of artesian well water (from factories situated in the Borough)
were taken, all of which were sterile and pure. Samples taken from the Artesian well
supplying drinking water at St. Bernard's Hospital gave unsatisfactory results and, following
visits from the engineer of the Regional Hospital Board, the use of this water for drinking
was discontinued, and South West Suburban Water Company's mains supply substituted.
Sewerage
Middlesex County Council provides the facilities for purification of sewage from the
Borough at the Mogden Sewage Works. The amount of congestion occurring in the drains
and sewers of the Borough, partly as a result of increase in the number of houses and shops
and partly due to the fact that improved knowledge of hygiene results in an increased use
of water for cleanliness, meant that problems have arisen of overcharging of sewers, and of
flooding during periods of heavy rain. Measures to relieve this have had to be taken, and the
latest position with regard to these improvements is as follows:—
The construction of the Tentelow Lane Outfall Sewer was completed during 1959.
This outfall sewer discharges into the water course which forms the southern boundary of
the Borough, and thence into the River Brent, taking the surface water from the Havelock
Road housing estate which formerly was discharged into the Canal. It will also be able to
take surface water from the surface water sewers which are being provided in the parts of
Tentelow Lane not previously drained.
A soil sewer has been provided for the drainage of houses in Glade Lane and at the
eastern end of Havelock Road. By the end of the year these properties which had no main
drainage facilities were rapidly being connected to this public sewer. Prior to this it was
necessary to maintain a thrice weekly pail closet collection of night soil. It was possible also
to get rid of three systems of cesspool drainage by the construction of this sewer.
Further progress was made during the year by the Council consultants on the preparation
of the outline scheme for the southern soil relief sewer to relieve surcharging in the area of
the Borough bounded by King Street and The Green in the East, the Railway in the North
and the Canal in the South. This sewer will also improve conditions in Norwood Road and
Tentelow Lane.
Progress has also been made on the preparation of a scheme for the southern surface
water relief sewer, to give assistance to the surface water system already in operation, and
to take surcharge in the southern part of the Borough. Shortage of staff in the Borough
Engineer's Department prevented the amount of progress which was expected with regard
to this scheme.
Serious flooding of the Yeading Brook in the area of the houses in Delamere Road and
certain streets in Hayes, was improved in 1959 by the re-alignment of the River Crane by
the Middlesex County Council's contractors. The River Crane was also widened, dredged
and deepened in certain places.
32