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14
Some of the complaints referred to in previous Annual Reports
of smell, flies and flying insects from the Richmond Main Sewage
Works were repeated during the summer months of 1963. Energetic
measures were taken by the Board's staff to deal with these complaints
which are unfortunately a recognised hazard where sewage works are
situated in a built up residential area. It is disconcerting to note that
pressure of demands for new housing has led to the development of
land in the near vicinity of the Works, even by our own Authority.
It is too optimistic to expect even a modern sewage works to operate
continuously without ever causing a nuisance in the immediate neigh'
bourhood.
VERMINOUS PREMISES ETC.
Rodent Control.
Routine treatment of the sewers against rats was continued over
small areas of the sewers system. The results proved very satisfactory
and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries have advised that only
check treatments are considered necessary in future.
No serious surface infestation by rats or mice have been reported.
The number of isolated complaints remains at a satisfactory low level.
Other Pests.
Less than ten verminous premises were noted during the year.
The relative ease with which householders can deal with such infestations
by the use of preparations of D.D.T. etc., readily available in
the shops, makes this aspect of our work very light nowadays. There
were, however, more requests for the eradication of wasps nests,
although these too can, and should, be dealt with by the prudent
amateur.
Refuse Collection and Disposal.
The Refuse Transfer Station came into operation on 1st May,
1963. In many respects the changeover from incineration has resulted
in a simpler, cleaner and more straightforward system. As with any
system of waste disposal, hold-ups must be kept to a minimum,
otherwise chaos and the most unpleasant consequences follow. The
most serious drawback to the new system lies in the necessity to have
an adequate reserve of mechanical transport available to deal with
breakdowns and abnormalities. By its nature domestic refuse cannot
be stored for long in a residential area. Much of the refuse has
already been in the householder's bin for several days and on arrival
at the Transfer Station conditions for fly breeding and nuisance from
putrescible matter are such that it is imperative that the transfer to
the controlled tips is continuous and expeditious. A few complaints