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22
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
SEWERAGE AND DRAINAGE
Part II of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936 enacts the main provisions
relating to sewerage and drainage. Construction and maintenance of sewers
vested in the Borough Council is the responsibility of the Borough Engineer and
Surveyor's Department, and during the year that Department carried out the
reconstruction of approximately 800 yards of sewers.
In my previous reports I have referred to the reconstruction of the
Rendlesham Road sewer which in the past has been a source of complaint arising
from flooding caused by surcharging in times of abnormal rainfall. The Borough
Engineer informs me that the first part of this reconstruction is now 75% completed
and that authorisation has been received from the Ministry of Housing
and Local Government for the second stage which will complete the reconstruction
of all the sewers in that drainage area. The work already completed has
had the effect of materially improving conditions and no further reports of
flooding have been received.
A scheme has been submitted to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government
for the alleviation of flooding in the area served by the Clapton Station
sewer which includes the railway track by Clapton Station, part of Upper
Clapton Road, Cricketfield Road, Perron Road and Charnock Road.
The discharge of trade effluents, etc. into sewers is regulated by the
provisions of Part II of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1953
which makes 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
authority two months' written notice of proposals to discharge new or modified
trade effluents.
The Act defines "trade premises® as any premises used or intended to be
used for carrying on any trade or industry, and "trade effluent" as any liquid
either with or without particles of matter in suspension therein which is
wholly or in part produced in the course of any trade or industry carried on at
trade premises, and in relation to any trade premises any such liquid as aforesaid
which is so produced in the course of any trade or industry carried on at
those premises, but does not include domestic sewage.
Responsibility for enforcing the provisions of this part of the Act is
divided as follows:-