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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; the supply has been satisfactory in
both quality and quantity. One sample of drinking water was
taken during the year from the storage tank of a dwelling-house,
and the Bacteriologist reported it was pure and wholesome, suitable
for drinking and domestic purposes, very hard in character although
not excessively so.
Rivers and Streams.
Sixty-one visits were paid during the year in connection with
the pollution of water courses and these visits had reference to
premises wherein sanitary fittings had been incorrectly connected
to the Council's surface water sewers. In all instances the necessary
adjustments were made and the pollution prevented.
Public Cleansing.
A weekly collection of refuse and salvage was maintained and
the total weight of refuse disposed of at the Works was 11,849
tons. This was a slight increase over the amount collected in the previous
year, namely, 11,223 tons; the population mid-year 1950 was
estimated at 48,770 as compared with 48,510 for the previous year.
The net cost per ton for the collection of refuse was 19s. 5d.
as against 18s. 4d. for the year ended March, 1950, and 16s. 7d.
for the year ended March, 1949. The net cost per ton for the
disposal of refuse was 8s. 5d. as compared with 7s. 9d. for the
previous year and 7s. 1d. for the year ended March, 1949.
The net expenditure for the collection and disposal of refuse
and salvage was £16,511 as against £14,613 for the previous year.
The total income from all sources was £7,009 as compared with
£5,967 for the previous year. Waste paper prices improved during
the year and of the total income a sum of £3,696 was received for
this commodity. It is interesting to note that the tonnage of paper
collected by the Council's employees appeared to decline in relation
to price improvements. This general tendency has been noted in
past years in relation to other commodities. The average amount
of paper collected per month during the year was 38 tons which
was 10 tons below the quota figure. Nevertheless, the revenue
obtained for the sale of waste paper made a considerable contribution
towards the record income of £7,009.
In the previous report mention was made of difficulties in
the disposal of ashes, screenings and clinker from the Refuse
Disposal Works, but during the year this problem was solved when
arrangements were made with the Epping Rural District Council
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