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97
met with its customary inundation in many places under
the aforesaid circumstances.
On the resumption of the flow of the sewage in the
main arterial lines of Sewers, the pent-up and blocked local
sewers also began to discharge, and to re-assume their
functions, and to which I believe they are perfectly equal
under ordinary circumstances. The above remarks apply
more specially to that portion of the system of sewerage
draining the lower parts of this parish.
In the middle and upper districts, or systems of main
sewerage, the cause of the floods, which occurred in and
about Peckham rye, &c., was also attributable to the overcharged
condition of the main sewers of that locality, viz.,
East Dulwich, Peckham Rye, Nunhead, &c., the main upper
sewer, which has its course under the roadway leading from
East Dulwich road, crossing the Rye to and along Nunhead
lane, was on this occasion more than fully charged, and
although of large capacity and about 18 feet deep, it became
so surcharged as to overflow on to the surface of the road.
Near to the fountain which stands on the Common on the
south side of this road is the local main (4ft. in diameter)
having its outlet into the London County Council Main
Sewer in question under this road, but, as just stated, this
main being full, no outlet for the local sewer could be
obtained, consequently, before the natural flow was obtained
the pent-up sewage in the sewer under the Common asserted
its law of gravitation, being counterforced by the rush and
pressure of the hill water from behind, causing the crown
of this Sewer to lift for a length of some 20 feet, this
fracture or breach in the crown of the sewer released an
enormous volume of flood water on to Peckham Rye