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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 stand-pipes 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.
Sampling of artesian wells used in certain local industrial plants was carried out;
thirteen samples were taken from six factories, two for chemical analysis, eleven for bacterial.
In two instances doubtful bacteriological findings were followed by further sampling
which proved satisfactory.
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,
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:—
Additional surface water sewers were installed in part of Dormers Wells Lane, reducing
the risk of flooding in this road.
The Southern Soil Relief Sewer was completed, and risk of overflow of sewage in the
south of the Borough removed.
The only pail closets emptied by the Council are two at "Springdale."
There are two cesspools emptied by the Council's gully emptier—one at "Springdale"
and one at Wyke Green.
Refuse Collection and Disposal
Southall Borough Council provides one dustbin free to every separately rated hereditament,
the number of bins so supplied is approximately 17,000. The renewal period for these
is when the dustbins have worn out, but not more frequently than once in ten years. Weekly
collections are made from houses; three times a week from St. Bernard's Hospital; twiceweekly
collections are made from other Hospitals and high flats. Weekly collections from
shops and industrial premises are generally made, sometimes more frequently. Large
amounts are charged for. Special collections from domestic and other premises are made by
arrangement.
The Council maintain a fleet of vehicles, including 9 freighters on refuse collection,
one lorry for special collections. Refuse is picked over for salvage in the Council Depot;
salvaged materials being sold and the residue is either incinerated at the Depot or carried to
be tipped at an authorised site at West Drayton.
Street Cleansing
The main shopping streets are cleansed daily and other roads are cleansed once, twice or
three times a week depending on various conditions. For this purpose, one lorry, one
mechanical sweeper-collector and one suction footpath sweeper are used. There are 14
street orderlies with hand trucks. Sweepings are conveyed to the Depot and subsequently
to the tip at West Drayton.
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