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Section C.—SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES
OF THE AREA
Water Supplies.
A hard, pure and constant piped water supply is provided
by the Metropolitan Water Board, and the supply has been
satisfactory in both quality and quantity. Work is still being
continued on the second reservoir of the Metropolitan Water Board.
Rivers and Streams.
It was not necessary to take any action as to the pollution
of water courses in the area.
Public Cleansing.
The collection and disposal of house and trade refuse is carried
out under the direction of the Chief Sanitary Inspector.
A weekly collection of refuse was maintained, using four
10 cubic yard freighters. The total weight of refuse disposed of
at the Works was 5,954 tons, a decrease of 1,018 tons from the
amount collected during the previous year. This decrease was
due to the number of families who were evacuated.
The net cost per ton for the collection of refuse was 10s. 7d.
as against 8s. 5¼d. for the year ended March, 1940, and 7s. 7¾d.
for the year ended March, 1939. The net cost per ton for the
disposal of refuse was 2s. 7¾d., as against 4s. l¼-d. for the previous
year, and 2s. ll½d. for the year ended March, 1939. It will be
observed that collection and disposal costs per ton are higher than
in the previous year, and this was due to the maintenance charges
on the provision of a new freighter and also additional work which
was incurred in the collection of salvage. Fortunately, the cost
per ton on the disposal side was relieved to a considerable extent
by the increased revenue from the sale of salvaged articles.
The income from the sale of salvaged articles and from the
minor items was £2,648, as against £1,379 in the year ended
March, 1940. The increase was due chiefly, to the sale of waste
paper.
The system for the collection of kitchen waste was introduced
during the year, and although a revenue of £96 was obtained,
there was a loss on the first period of working due to the overhead
charges such as provision of bins, provision of transport, trailer,
and labour.
The weighbridge was maintained under contract and the
fees received during the year amounted to £40 19s. 0d., representing
1,638 weighings, as against £33 16s. 6d., representing 1,353
weighings in the previous year.
The sums received during the year for the removal of Trade
Refuse amounted to £113, a decrease of £33 over the amount
collected in the previous year. This decrease is due to the collection
of Trade Refuse free of charge in cases where this had a salvage
value.
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