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9
at the junctions of the several drains from houses which have
been flooded; these, if kept in order, prevent the sewage
from flowing back from the sewers into the cellars, or lowest
floors of the houses ; but in the case of very heavy storms, the
rain falling on the roofs and gardens, if not diverted from the
cellars, may cause inconvenience, the outlet through the
house drains being necessarily closed for a short time, if the
water in the sewer rise above that in the cellar.
In the present state of things it would be well to put in
these valves wherever required in Beckenham or Penge, and
to caution parties who have cellars liable to be flooded, to
restrict their use so as to reduce to a minimum the damage
which may be caused by sudden storms.
Before arranging the works for dealing with the sewage
and surface water, near the boundary between Penge and
Beckenham, it was necessary to determine whether the line
of culvert and pipes running along the County boundary, in
the Crystal Palace Grounds, and thence in a south-easterly
direction across Penge Park Estate, under houses, gardens,
and other properties, to the Parish Lane, should be used for
sewage and surface water as heretofore, or only for surface
water; and I spent some considerable time in getting information
and balancing the somewhat complicated advantages
and disadvantages of each course, and in consulting with the
Local Committees thereon. After well considering all the
circumstances, and the strong desire of the Lewisham Board
that the culvert should be kept for clean water, I determined
to recommend the adoption of that course, although it may
be difficult to prevent houses, over and near the culvert, from
draining into it.
Boundary
culvert.
This boundary conduit, which runs along a natural watercourse,
is irregularly laid, and varies in size and construction;
the greater part is barrel culvert, about two feet in diameter;
the portions under the railway are culverts of a larger size,
and other portions are pipes 18 inches in diameter; therefore
a man could not go through to examine it, and as it passes
near or under about a dozen houses or gardens, we have not