View report page

Sewage is pumped to the disposal works of the Croydon Corporation
in Beddington, except at various points on the fringes of the
district, where it is more conveniently drained to the sewage systems
of neighbouring authorities.
Surface drainage in the south is mainly by soakaways in the
chalk; elsewhere it is by surface sewers to the River Wandle.
263 drainage obstructions, affecting 728 houses, were dealt with,
chiefly concerning combined drainage systems.
Rivers and Streams.
No special work other than normal routine maintenance was
carried out. The County Council, who are now responsible for the
branch of the River Wandle which flows through the district, installed
a rectangular weir and a Lea recording apparatus in the lower reaches
within the Grove grounds for recording the flow from the springs
which feed the ponds. The first recordings were taken in April.
No complaints were received by the Public Health Department
during 1950.
Closet Accommodation.
All premises have w.c.s connected to the sewers except seventeen
in an unsewered area connected to cesspools.
Public Cleansing.
The Council's Engineer and Surveyor is responsible for the
direction of this service which, during, and since, the last war, has
increasingly included salvage operation of waste materials.
No alterations were made in the method of refuse collection as
operated during the previous year, but the fleet of collection vehicles
was further modernised by the addition of two vehicles manufactured
by Shelvoke and Drewry, each of 12 cu. yd. capacity. The introduction
of these new vehicles has made it possible for a spare vehicle to
be constantly in reserve should a breakdown of the regular vehicles
occur.
Disposal of refuse is by incineration in the Council's 6-cell
destructor. During 1950 further improvements were made by the
acquisition of a Chaseside Shovel for use in loading clinker, waste
paper and rag bales, enabling the latter to be increased to 3 cwts.
Arrangements were made to dispose of screenings to the Croydon Tip
at Mitcham and clinker to the old Watercress Beds in Mill Lane.
Kitchen waste is collected for pig food, the bins for which are
cleansed regularly by steam.
Sanitary Inspection.
The following information supplied by the Chief Sanitary
Inspector, under Article 27 of the Sanitary Officers' Regulations,
1935, indicates the action taken in sanitary inspection during the year.
23