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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 43 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 the usual attention, but no major works
were undertaken pending the reconstruction to be carried out by Surrey
County Council.
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
During the year a Bedford Lacre suction sweeper was brought into
operation on the highways and proved to be a more satisfactory method
of cleansing than hand sweeping. Footpaths have continued to be swept
by hand.
The pilot scheme for refuse collection using paper bags instead of
dustbins, which was carried out in 1960, proved successful and has been
extended to other Council housing estates, 400 houses now being provided
with brackets for paper bags.
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