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46
RIVERS AND STREAMS
No action to check pollution was necessary during the year.
CLOSET ACCOMMODATION
All closets an; of the water carriage type. There are no closets of the conservancy or wastewider
type in the area. There is, however, a sad deficiency of the "sufficient" water closet
accommodation of the Housing Acts. In an urban community this can only be reasonably
interpreted as meaning one W.C. per family, a standard which is far from being realised locally.
PUBLIC CLEANSING
REFUSE COLLECTION
Refuse collection is carried out by means of mechanical transport at an economic cost and
with a general freedom from complaints. The Council endeavour to keep the type of vehicle
engaged on the collection as up-to-date as circumstances will permit, and latterly have purchased
five vehicles with enclosed bodies of the barrier type, which are giving every satisfaction not only
to the Department, but to the residents generally; further vehicles of this type arc being purchased
in the immediate future, to replace some of the older ones.
Generally the House Refuse is collected once weekly, but extra collections are made in the
case of public buildings, large blocks of flats and other premises where special circumstances arise.
Definite arrangements have, however, been made to institute a part bi-weekly collection of refuse
from premises where necessary at an early date.
The Council has recently inaugurated the "Container" system of storage and collection in
connection with its Housing Estates, whereby a daily collection is given. The system works very
satisfactorily and is being adopted by the London County Council in respect of Hospitals and Schools
under their control. Owners of certain large blocks of residential flats in the Borough are also
considering the scheme, and in one or two instances have adopted it.
There are still a few ash pits in the Borough, but these are gradually being abolished as
opportunities occur. Special attention is given to the maintenance of the dustbins to see that these
are kept in serviceable condition.
DISPOSAL
Practically the whole of the House and Trade Refuse collected in the Borough continues to
be disposed of at the Refuse Destructor in a satisfactory and economical manner.
The volume of refuse dealt with has increased out of proportion to the tonnage, and it is
assumed that this is due to the increasing substitution of gas and electric fires in place of solid fuel
tires, and so curtailing facilities for burning refuse on the premises.
SCAVENGING AND WATERING
Practically all the streets in the Borough receive daily attention and the more important
thoroughfares are swept several times daily; mechanical watering vehicles are employed in the
summer and gullies are mechanically cleansed by a modern machine.