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3. Sewerage and Sewage Disposal.
(a) Sewerage. The very old sewers in Whitehall Lane and across
the forest from near Whitehall Road to Western Sewage Disposal
Works, which had in the past been a frequent source of trouble,
including discharge of sewage on to the forest at times of surcharge,
have been completely re-laid.
(b) Eastern Sewage Disposal Works. Experimental work on the
old circular filters in an endeavour to avoid heavy expenditure in
the complete renewal of the media has continued. It has not yet
been possible to arrive at definite conclusions. Essex River Board
take frequent samples of effluent for analysis and have been advised
of the experimental work.
Valve chambers have now been provided at both primary sludge
digestion tanks. These will greatly facilitate access to the pipe system
at the sludge digestion tanks where difficulties due to blockages had
previously seriously interfered with the working of the tanks.
(c) Southern Sewage Disposal Works. The Ministry of Housing
and Local Government have given approval in priniciple to the
Council's scheme for improvements at these works and is prepared
to entertain proposals for the carrying out of the first stage of the
scheme on the basis of a likely starting date for the work not earlier
than 1955.
(d) Western Sewage Disposal Works. It has still not yet been
made possible to carry out the intended diversion of the western
drainage area sewage into the East Middlesex system at Chingford,
to be followed by abandonment of the obsolete disposal works.
Negotiations have continued, in particular on the question of financial
contributions towards the cost of the necessary relief sewer at Chingford.
Meanwhile careful supervision continues to ensure the discharge
of a reasonably satisfactory effluent.
SANITARY INSPECTION OF THE AREA
The Senior Sanitary Inspector reports as follows: —
Housing Act, 1936
Insanitary Houses.
The Members of the Public Health Committee have always been
mindful of the need to deal with houses which were not capable of
being rendered fit at a reasonable cost, and have supported officers
of the Public Health Department in their efforts. This support has
been appreciated and encouraging, and has continued throughout the
year.
Some five years ago a list of insanitary houses was drawn up
and classified on grounds based on the suggested life of the properties.
The Public Health and Housing Committees appointed subcommittees
to deal with this list. They met as a Joint Sub-Committee,
and because of their action the Medical Officer of Health and the
Senior Sanitary Inspector were able to deal with many unfit properties.
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