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obtained. The Council have served notice on the Chingford Corporation
their intention to divert the flow into their system. The actual date of
the change over is dependent upon negotiations now proceeding.
Refuse and Salvage Collection
(a) Refuse Collection. This was the first full year in which the Council
operated their own fleet of modern vehicles and the collection service has
proceeded without serious complaints of any sort and in fact is a distinct
improvement over previous years. The disposal of refuse is by control
tipping and complaints were overcome during the very hot summer by
frequent dustings of "Gammexane" which proved quite effective in preventing
flies and other vermin.
(b) Salvage Collection. The collection of salvage has proceeded throughout
the year and is collected at the same time as the house refuse. The
lncome from this source has proved quite remarkably steady.
Sanitary Inspection of the Area
The Senior Sanitary Inspector reports as follows:—
The beginning of the New Year (1947) threw much work above the
normal on the Department on account of the abnormal weather. The
extreme cold caused many defects in the water supply systems and the
inspectors were busy arranging for plumbers to repair many burst pipes in
requisitioned houses. Many complaints were received in connection with
other dwellings.
Following on the trouble with burst pipes, came complaints of falling
ceilings in houses where the supply in the roof space became frozen and
pipes showed defects on thawing.
The strain on the piping apparently caused by frost seems to have
shown itself during the remainder of the year, when many pipes again
burst during the periods of fine weather.
The department was further engaged on additional duties during the
period when the water supply from the mains was discontinued and was
maintained by the Metropolitan Water Board by an emergency service,
during which water was carted to the inhabitants in tanks on lorries. Visits
were made to schools and cinemas to ensure that the sanitary arrangements
for the use of the scholars and patrons were maintained. By acting as
liaison officers, the Sanitary Inspectors were able to make satisfactory
arrangements between these establishments and the Metropolitan Water
Board, whereby sufficient water was supplied and stored.
Near the end of the long spell of bad weather the Department was
called in to survey damage to dwellings which had been flooded where the
River Roding overflowed its bank after the thaw.
It was reported that in 1946 much work and time was devoted to the
repair of requisitioned property, and it must be noted that in 1947 this
work continued. During the year the presence of dry rot seems to have
become more evident. The work involved in removing affected timber, etc.,
and making good was in some cases considerable and costly. It was
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