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8
Rivers and Streams.—Complaints have been received over a
considerable time from the Thames Conservancy of the discharge of
unsatisfactory effluents from the Council's Outfall Works into the
River Mole, and the Council has been under notice to carry out works
which would remedy the condition. Schemes for remodelling the
Works were considered in 1923 and 1924, and in the latter year an
Inquiry was held by the Ministry of Health into an application of the
District Council for sanction to a loan for the purpose of carrying out
a scheme on the activated sludge principle, prepared by Mr. Salkield.
The application was opposed by the Epsom Rural District Council on
the ground that treatment by sprinklers would be more efficient and
less costly, and the Ministry informed the Council that they were not
prepared to sanction the loan. Other schemes were prepared, and
the Council eventually adopted that of Mr. Fairley, and steps were
being taken at the end of 1925 to put it into operation.
The discharge of liquid refuse from the Gas Works into one
of the surface water sewers engaged the attention of the DistrictCouncil
from time to time, and eventually they applied to the Ministry of
Health for permission to take action under the Rivers Pollution
(Prevention) Act, 1876. An Inquiry into the application was held by
an Inspector of the Ministry, who subsequently wrote to the Council
expressing the hope that it would not be found necessary to take
further action.
Drainage and Sewerage.—Sewers are available throughout the
District, except for a few outlying houses. The sewers are on the
separate system. The sewage is treated, together with that of Ashtead,
at the Outfall Works at Pachesbam, by sedimentation followed by
treatment in "double contact" beds, the effluent from which is passed
over the land.
During the year the District Council extended sewers for the
reception of the drainage of newly developed areas.
The house drains are intercepted from the sewers, and ventilated.
Scavenging.—House refuse is collected weekly by the Council's
staff, under the supervision of the Surveyor, and is taken to the
Council's Depot in Bamett Wood Lane, where it is picked over, and
the paper and other easily combustible constituents are burned in a
brick chamber which has been erected for the purpose.
Movable covered ashbins are general throughout the District.
Work of Sanitary Inspector.—The Sanitary Inspector makes
the following report :—
Number of inspections of dwelling-houses 348
,, houses at which nuisances or other defects
were discovered 107