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10.
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.
Rivers and Streams.
Forty seven visits were made during the year in connection with
the pollution of water courses. Informal action secured the
abatement of minor instances of pollution.
Fly Nuisance.
The emergence of flies from the waters of the Metropolitan
Water Board Reservoirs was again experienced and for the year under
review was a spring emergence in the vicinity of the William Girling
Reservoir. Prompt action by the Water Board was again effective
in providing at least temporary relief from the nuisance.
Public Cleansing.
A weekly collection of refuse and salvage was maintained and
the total weight of refuse disposed of at the Works was 12,044 tons
as compared with 11,797 tons for the previous year. The Registrar
General's estimate of population at the mid-year 1956 indicated a
further decline, being 46,840 as against the estimate for mid-year
1955 of 47,310. The number of premises from which refuse was
collected showed an increase, being 14,378 as against 14,337 for
the previous year.
The analysis of income on page 14 reveals a total figure of
£12,164 as against £11,908 for the previous year. Whilst the sale
of waste paper made a major contribution to this figure, notable sums
were also received from the sale of metals, both ferrous and nonferrous,
cullet, bottles, jars and textiles.
The net cost per ton for the collection of refuse was 30/-d as
against 27/ld for the year ended March, 1956 and 25/3d for the year
ended March, 1955. The increase in the unit cost per ton was due
to Wage Awards, no additional men being employed during the year.
Five refuse collection vehicles were in daily use, two vehicles
maintained as spares. No new vehicles were acquired during the
year.