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The whole report is so valuable and important that I quote in full the
Summary and Conclusions :—
"Summary of Report and Conclusions.
(1.) The questions submitted to us were so many in number and so wide
in scope, that, although each one has received our careful consideration, we
have found it expedient to direct our chief attention to such portions of the
general problem as in our opinion demanded the earliest solution. For that
reason, although we have received and studied with interest many able communications
and suggestions for the treatment of sewage chemically and
electrically in a different way to that now in force; as also for its utilisation
on lands, and for its discharge at other points than in the estuary of the
Thames, we have made no reference to these in our Report, as we have been
unable at present to found any recommendations upon them.
"(2.) In approaching the subject, we have had to remember that improving
the main drainage system is only one of the many increasing demands for the
construction of works of utility in the metropolis, and further that the general
features of that system were unalterably fixed many years ago.
"(3.) We have also had to recognise the fact that a certain amount of
sewage pollution in both the upper and lower reaches of the Thames is inevitable
in the future as in the past, as it would be wholly impracticable to deal
with the sewage during heavy rainfall by other means than by letting it discharge
in a crude condition by the shortest route into the river.
"(4.) We have found on investigation that the most frequent cause of
public complaint is due to the insufficient size of the main outfall sewers,
which has led to floodings of the low districts, and to the frequent discharge
of much crude undiluted sewage into the Thames in the heart of the
metropolis.
"(5.) To remedy these immediate pressing evils, we have proposed the
construction of new intercepting sewers on both sides of the river of sufficient
size to provide for the sewage of a future population of seven millions, and also
for a reasonable amount of rainfall, at a cost of about' two-and-a-quarter
millions.
"We are of opinion that detailed plans should be prepared of these works,
and that no time should be lost in commencing such portions of them as are
more immediately required.
"(6.) We do not think that the same urgency exists as regards the
removal of the present outfalls to some point lower down the river or to
the sea.
"Having reference to the evidence given before the Royal Commissioners
in 1883-4, and to the results of our inquiries and investigations generally, we
have been led to the opinion that no new works should be entered upon until tho
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