View report page

Sanitary Circumstances of the District. 9
deal of the rain waiter goes direct to the river by a special system of
drains (but most of the roof water enters the sewers).
The sewage is treated with chemicals, sedimented, filtered and
then discharged after aeration, three to four million gallons being
thus treated in the 24 hours. The residue or sludge is filtered under
pressure, and pressed into slabs 2½in. thick, and amounting to 7,000
tons of pressed cake annually, which is barged away and sold for
agricultural purposeis. I only know of three cesspools and one pail
closet in the District, and these are only allowed because of the
difference in level between drains and sewers.
SCAVENGING.
For collection of house refuse the prevailing system is one of
movable sanitary bins, which are emptied once a week, and the contents
cremated in the Council's Destructor. The resulting clinker i;s
used for making pavement slabs in normal times.
There are several fixed receptacles for refuse still in use, which
tend to become untidy and leaky unless properly rendered inside and
out with cement. These fixed receptacles are being gradually replaced
by movable ones as opportunities arise.
SCHOOLS.
The Public Elementary Schools, with the exception of Mortlake
Council Schools, East Sheen Council Schools, Lonsdale Road Council
Schools, and Westfield's Boys' School, are old buildings, and do not
conform architecturally to modern ideas. The Sanitary arrangements
are satisfactory. The Caretakers would have more control of the
dust, if Dust Allayers were used on the floors and Vacuum Cleaners
run over the walls, cupboards, and hangings.
There is an urgent need for a good Secondary School in this
District, and this scheme is maturing.
N0 Schools were closed for infectious disease during the year.
Contagious skin diseases have been prevalent.
The Private Schools in the District have been systematically
visited, and various sanitary defects remedied.
Medical Inspection of the children should, in my opinion, be
undertaken with regard to these private school children, on the same
lines as that obtaining in the Public Elementary School ; and powers
granted in that direction would, I think, be of great benefit to the
welfare of the children, whether day scholars or boarders.