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13
The average consumption of water in the Board's area during
1957 was 327 million gallons daily.
Daily consumption per head:—
Unmetered 38 gallons
Metered 14 gallons
Total daily consumption 52 gallons per head
SEWERAGE AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL
Although the work of redesigning and modernising the Sewage
Disposal Works has not yet been fully completed, the operation of
the plant has been carried out in an exemplary manner and a satisfactory
effluent has been achieved. Some difficulty was encountered
through the unauthorised discharge of certain trade wastes which can
have a very detrimental effect on the purification process. As sewage
is brought from all sections of the Boroughs of both Barnes and
Richmond it is a difficult matter to trace the offenders. The position
is being kept under observation and more drastic steps will need to
be taken should this trouble recur.
There are still too many cases coming to notice where wash basins,
baths and sinks have been fitted in premises where the waste pipes
have been made to discharge to the surface water drainage system
instead of to the foul system. This causes pollution of the River
Thames and is an offence. The Council can order such connections
to be cut off. Persons carrying out alterations and conversions should
realise that proper notification is required by the local authority before
such work is commenced.
The condition of certain main sewers in the area is causing
concern and the Council have accepted a scheme for renewal and
improvement over a period of years.
VERMINOUS PREMISES ETC.
Rodent Control
In the Mortlake and East Sheen parts of the Borough the foul
sewers have always been infested with rats. The infestation is heavy
in the older parts and relatively light where the sewers are more
modern and in better condition. These infested sewers are usually
treated twice a year with poison bait but, owing to staff difficulties,
these had to be curtailed to one treatment only in 1956 and 1957.
The following table shows the results of sewer treatments since they
were commenced:—