View report page

14
3. Sewerage and Sewage Disposal.
The Borough is sewered on a partially separate system, with the
drainage from roads discharging directly into the river through surface
water sewers. The soil sewers drain to the purification works of the
Richmond Main Sewerage Board, which receives sewage from the
Boroughs of Richmond and Barnes.
The works are adequate for the area, and all sewage arrives there
by gravity, the sewage from Ham being pumped through a rising main
to join the main flow at Buccleuch Gardens.
4. Public Health Inspection.
The wide range of public health duties to which attention is given
is shown in Table 18. It proved possible during the year to increase
the number of inspections of food premises while the survey of a new
Smoke Control Area has again added considerably to the visits made
by members of the department.
The number of complaints received in 1961 (Table 20) shows a
decrease of 12 due to fewer complaints received in respect of housing
defects.
Every effort is made to ensure that each complaint is investigated
within twenty-four hours of its receipt. Table 19 indicates the number
of informal and statutory notices served for the repair of premises
and the abatement of nuisances; in two instances legal proceedings
were taken against owners of dwelling-houses for failure to carry out
repairs; in one case a Nuisance Order was granted, with five guineas
costs, for the work to be done within two months, and in the other,
the owner was fined £5, with one guinea costs, and ordered to carry
out repairs in 21 days.
5. Disinfection and Disinfestation.
There has been no increase in the treatment of premises after
cases of infectious disease or of bed-bug infestation. The spraying of
School Kitchens operating under the School Meals Service has continued
and involves one treatment in the year by D.D.T. solution.
The fumigation of clothing before being sent abroad is carried out
to assist members of the public to satisfy Post Office regulations, and
a small charge is made for the treatment.
A summary of the work done is contained in Table 21.