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34
with caustic soda and a mixture of carbonate of soda and phosphate of soda
The drain was reconstructed and the firm carried out improvements to their
water softening process. In all cases where samples of trade effluent are
taken a copy of the Analyst' s certificate is sent to the occupiers of the
premises concerned, and also to the London County Council, into whose sewers
the trade effluents ultimately discharge.
STAFF. The Public Health Department s drainage staff consists of a
drainage foreman (part-time), a working foreman, one driver, and six labourers.
In the main, the work undertaken is that of tracing and exposing drains under
Section 40 (1) and (2) of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936 clearing
stoppages in emergencies, and minor repairs to drains following the service of
notices under Section 40 (4) also tracing and assisting in the smoking of rat
runs and the removal of offensive refuse from vacant sites.
PUBLIC HEALTH (LONDON) ACT, 1936
The principal sections of this Act which are invoked by the Public Health
Department in connection with drainage are
SECTION 34 (Drainage By-laws) By laws made by the London County Council
under this section regulate the dimensions, form and mode of construction, and
the maintenance, cleansing and repair, of pipes, drains and other means of
communication with sewers, and the traps and apparatus connected therewith
These by laws require persons about to construct, reconstruct, or alter pipes,
drains or other means of communication with the sewer, to deposit plans of the
proposed work with the Sanitary Authority, to whom 24 hours' notice in writing
must be given before any drainage work is begun they also require owners to
maintain in a proper state of repair and in proper working order all drainage
work in or in connection with any house or building.
The Public Health Committee approved a total of 69 plans of proposed works
of construction of new drains to existing buildings, or reconstruction or
alteration of existing drainage systems
Informal notices were served in respect of contraventions of these by-laws
at 104 premises, and in 107 cases it was necessary to serve formal notices.
Legal proceedings were instituted in ten instances, and in respect of five
summonses penalties were imposed and costs awarded to the Council. In two
other cases a penalty without costs was imposed- Two summonses were withdrawn
on payment of costs, the work having been carried out, and the remaining
summons was withdrawn., the defendant having died
SECTION 40 (Inspection of drains). Subsections (1) and (2) of this section
give power to a local authority to inspect any drain and, after 24 hours'
notice in writing, for that purpose to enter premises at all reasonable times
by day and cause the ground to be opened wherever they think fit with the
proviso that in a case of emergency these powers may be exercised notwith
standing that notice has not been given In 221 instances drains were
inspected after service of the requisite notices
Subsection (U) of this section, as amended by the London County Council
(General Powers) Act, 1951, provides that if, upon inspection, any drain appears
to be in bad order and condition or to require cleansing, alteration, repair or
filling up, the Borough Council shall serve on the owner or the occupier of the
premises a written notice requiring him to execute such works as they consider
necessary A person served with a notice under this subsection has the right
of appeal to a court of summary jurisdiction within a period of 21 days from
the service of the notice. Penalties are prescribed for non compliance with
such a notice, but the Council may, in default, carry out the works themselves
and recover the cost thereof by making it a charge on the premises Notices
to the number of 137 were served under this subsection
Two summonses for failure to comply with the requirements of notices were