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71
Environmental Health
Chironomus Midges—continued.
behalf of Thames Conservancy and was repeated several times as the summer progressed. This treatment
had some effect on the midge population but it did not achieve results which could be regarded
as entirely satisfactory.
The department co-operated with the Water Pollution Research Laboratory and the Rickmansworth
Urban District Council in a series of experiments using "sticky traps" at several points along the
canal. These experiments showed that the number of chironomus midges caught was appreciably
greater than in the previous year, and, further, that the proportion of midges, as compared with the
total catch of flying insects, was of the order of 80%-90% as against 30% in 1965.
Common Lodging Houses
The common lodging house in Uxbridge continued to function during the year, but it is anticipated
that in the near future it will be demolished in order to facilitate the Uxbridge Town Centre Redevelopment
Scheme.
Disinfection
A steam disinfector is installed at Harlington Road Depot and can be brought into use at very
short notice. The arrangements for disinfection remained as in previous years.
Disinfestation
During the year the following treatments were carried out:—
Bugs—4 Fleas—10 Wasps—174
Drainage and Sewerage
Surcharge of soil and surface water sewers during periods of exceptionally heavy rainfall occurred
occasionally, mainly in the northern portion of the Borough. Cases of flooding of front and rear
gardens and yards occurred, but no actual flooding of dwelling houses. The areas affected were in
Honey Hill and Harefield Road, Uxbridge; Long Lane, Hillingdon; Northview, Field End Road,
Eastcote Road and Joel Street, Eastcote. Usually the surcharge of the surface water sewer affected
the foul sewer by overflowing into it at various points, thus causing foul sewage to overflow. Steps
were taken in all cases to clear up offensive matter and to carry out disinfection where necessary.
The situation has in most cases been rectified or substantially improved by relief sewage schemes
and the insertion of anti-flooding valves in the drainage systems. While conditions generally are steadily
improving throughout the Borough a few trouble spots still remain.
Examination of Plans
Plans of buildings (other than dwelling houses) deposited with the Borough Engineer & Surveyor
for approval under the Building Regulations are passed to the Environmental Health Section for
comments. Consequently, in addition to drawing attention to the requirements of any legislation such
as the Factories Acts, Offices, Shops & Railway Premises Act, Food Hygiene Regulations, etc., which
may not have been fully provided for, it is often possible to make suggestions which will result in the
premises having a standard better than the legal minimum and which, if incorporated at the design
stage, can be provided at little extra cost.
A recent development—the open plan—in the design of new schools is viewed with some concern.
This plan provides for water closets to be entered directly from classrooms. When a water closet is
flushed organisms present in the faeces are disseminated into the atmosphere, thus facilitating the spread
of disease if the organisms are of a pathogenic nature. The usual way of minimising this risk is to have
an intervening ventilated space between the water closet and any other room. In many premises, e.g.
shops, offices, factories, workplaces, places of entertainment, dwelling houses, food premises, etc.,
this is a legal requirement.