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25
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
SEWERAGE AND DRAINAGE
The main provisions relating to sewerage and drainage are contained in
Part II of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936. The Borough Engineer and
Surveyor's Department is responsible for the construction and maintenance of
sewers vested in the Borough Council, and work carried out by that Department
during the year included the reconstruction of approximately 400 yards of
sewers. Certain of the sewers in the Borough, by reason of capacity and the
redevelopment which has taken place since they were originally constructed,
are inadequate for the volume of sewage which they now receive, and in times
of abnormal rainfall are subject to surcharge, which frequently results in
flooding of houses in the areas in which they are situated. Since 1926, one
such sewer, in Rendlesham Road, has been a source of complaint: in times of
heavy rainfall this sewer surcharges to such an extent that the basements of
houses in the vicinity have, on occasion, suffered flooding up to a depth of
two feet, One is glad to report that, following the receipt of the approval
of the Minister of Housing and Local Government to the necessary expenditure,
the reconstruction of this sewer is now in hand.
Heavy rainfall on two days in July caused flooding in a number of the
roads in the Borough. In the case of one road, it was necessary for the Fire
Brigade on both days to pump water from basements, The cause of the trouble
in most cases appeared to be surcharge of the sewerage system, resulting in
back pressure in the drains, When the storms subsided a number of drains
were found to be obstructed by silt, debris, etc. The results of this flooding
can be briefly summarised as follows:-
1. Immediate inconvenience to householders;
2. Damage to chattels;
3. Damage to the fabric of the property,
4 Potential danger to health.
Every assistance was given to affected householders by the staff of the
department, and in several instances obstructed drains were cleared.
New powers for regulating the discharge of trade effluents, etc. into
sewers are contained in Part II of the London County Council (General Powers)
Act, 1953. These provisions take effect from the 1st April, 1954, and make
it an offence for any person to cause or permit to enter any sewer vested in a
sewer authority
(1) any matter likely to affect prejudicially the treatment and disposal
of sewage by the London County Council,
(2) any petroleum petroleum spirit or carbide of calcium;
(3) (a) any matter which is likely to injure the sewer or to interfere
with the free flow of its contents
(b) any matter (including any waste steam and any water or other
liquid of a higher temperature than 110° Pahr.) which either alone
or in combination with the contents of the sewer is dangerous or is
the cause of a nuisance or is or is likely to be, injurious to the
health of persons entering the sewer.
The Act also requires the provision of inspection chambers or manholes in
drains discharging effluent from any trade premises; such inspection chambers
or manholes must be so constructed as to enable a person readily to obtain
samples of what is passing into the sewer. An officer of the sewer authority
is empowered to obtain a sample of any trade effluent.
In certain circumstances a sewer authority may impose conditions with
respect to the discharge of trade effluents and may enter into agreements with
occupiers of trade premises with respect to the times, quantities, rates,
nature, treatment, etc, of trade effluents discharged or proposed to be discharged,
The occupiers of trade premises are required to give to the sewer