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SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
WATER SUPPLIERS
The water supply is piped throughout the district from the Sutton
District Water Company. All dwelling-houses in the area are
connected to public water mains. None of the inhabitants rely upon
stand pipes. During the year the supply has been satisfactory both in
quality and quantity.
It is understood that the Water Company carry out routine bacteriological
examinations of the raw and finished water daily from the wells
at Sutton and Woodmansterne, and also of the treated water going
into supply.
Routine chemical examinations are also carried out. The raw water
from the deep wells is of a relatively high degree of hardness. The
company are under a statutory obligation (Sutton District Waterworks
Act, 1903) to deliver water of not more than 9 degrees of hardness, and
an elaborate softening plant is in use.
During the year 65 samples of water were examined by the Public
Analyst or the Public Health Laboratory Service.
From the reports the water supply is shown to be satisfactory both
in chemical and bacteriological purity, and no cases of illness associated
with pollution of water supplies were recorded during the year.
The chlorination of water from private wells situated in industrial
premises was continued throughout the year.
DRAINAGE AND SEWERAGE
During the year the arrangements for sewerage and sewage disposal
continue to be adequate but attention should be directed at the former in
order that the system should remain so in the future.
The sewers have been systematically cleaned and flushed, and no major
difficulties were experienced in the maintenance and cleansing of soil and
storm water drainage systems, during the year.
RIVERS AND STREAMS
The River Wandle received its usual attention with particular reference
to the cleansing between Wandle Mills and Carew Manor by direct labour.
A section of culvert at Carew Manor was reconstructed by Surrey County
Council labour, curing a liability to flood at this point. The ditches in
Therapia Lane and Beddington Lane received special attention resulting
in improved land drainage and lessening the tendency to flood.
CLOSET ACCOMMODATION
Practically the whole of the area is on the water carriage system,
draining into public sewers. There are a few chemical and earth closets,
chiefly for use on sports grounds within the district, whilst four cesspools
were in use in the district at the end of the year.
PUBLIC CLEANSING
Problems arising out of the dearth of labour for road sweeping and
cleansing has necessitated constant review of modern methods, and a
number of appliances of the vacuum suction sweeper type have been demonstrated
by the manufacturers, resulting in a order being placed for a
machine which will be in operation in the near future.
A pilot scheme for refuse collection has been brought into operation
whereby some 180 Council properties on Bute Road and Demesne Road
Estates have been provided with brackets for paper bags to contain household
refuse. This appears to reduce fatigue and speed up the rate of
collection, and is the solution to the scattering of refuse and air pollution
on windy days.
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