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34
4. Special Nuisances.
(a) As recorded in my report for 1932, a serious public
nuisance arose and continued into the early part of 1933 in
connection with the Chiswick Sewage Disposal Works.
Although these works or rather that part dealing with the
secondary treatment of the sewage had been reconstructed, a
very offensive effluvia was being given off, causing serious
annoyance and trouble over a widespread area.
Expert advice was called in and every possible effort was
made, including the chlorination of the sewage after primary
treatment in the chemical precipitation tanks and before passing
to the trickling filters, with little or no success. As pointed out
last year the trouble was strongly suspected as being connected
with the trade effluent from a yeast works which the Council
were under contract to accept, but definite proof of this was
extremely difficult. Finally it was decided that such effluent
must be eliminated, and arrangements were made whereby the
effluent would be taken and dealt with by the London County
Council's system of sewerage and sewage disposal and thus
would undergo a very high percentage of dilution before reaching
the outfall works.
Immediately this was done the Chiswick Disposal Works
resumed their normal working and the nuisance at once abated,
thus confirming the opinion always strongly expressed by our
Sewage Engineer, Mr. J. H. Abbott.
(b) A further serious nuisance arose during and subsequent
to the month of August, when the Council's Dust Destructors
were shut down for overhaul and repair. During this time the
system of tipping house and trade refuse was adopted.
Unfortunately, this tipping—in the height of the summer
season—was carried out by tipping into a large lagoon, formed
by the excavation for sand and ballast. Although some
attempt at daily covering was made, the water in the lagoon
became putrid and offensive effluvia was again rife over rather
a widespread area. Immediate steps were of course taken to
overcome the nuisance, including the treatment of the water
by the addition of quick lime, chloride of lime and chlorine in
solution in the form of " Chloros," but it was not until the water