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Annual Report or the Medical Officer of Health.—1898. 35
Special Report on Sewage Flooding in Basements.
Amongst Bewage-flooded cellars visited by me were those in use as workrooms
by bakers, cooks, printers, a butcher (a meat pickler), a window-blind maker, a
urrier, a gas-fitter, a gilder, a paper-bag maker, and a publican.
This question of basement-floodings in various low-lyings parts of the metropolis
has been for some years past under the notice of the London County Council, and in
895 the Council resolved that the general enlargement of the main drainage system
was not then necessary, but that "local flooding needed immediate attention." In
893—in accordance with the request of the Chairman of the Main Drainage Committee
of the London County Council—I furnished particulars of 20 cellars in which
found evidence of sewage flooding.
A summary of a detailed report on the subject is recorded in my Annual Report
to the Vestry for 1893. In this report I explained that "the special danger connected
with this form of basement flooding is that this sewage is always more or less
recharged with the specific poison of typhoid fever, and is at any time liable to that of
cholera and of other deadly diseases. It is obvious that such contaminated cellars
are unfitted for the preparation of bread or other articles of food, and almost equally
50 for use as workshops or dwelling rooms."
I also added—"In reference to this report a correspondence took place between
your Vestry and the London County Council. The latter, as you are aware, suggested
that the less costly remedy would be to fill up the cellars rather than to enlarge the
main sewer. No mention was made, however, of the question of compensation for
disturbance to owners, nor did the Council state on whom it was proposed to lay the
necessary cost involved of filling up the cellars. Further, no answer of any kind was
given to my proposal contained in a previous report, that the Council should lay
down a separate system of drainage for carrying off storm water."
The London Building Act of 1891 provides against the occupancy in the future
of dwelling-houses on low-lying land.
Section 122 of this Act says:—
"It shall not be lawful for any person upon land of which the surface is below
the level of Trinity high-water mark, and which is so situate as not to admit of being
drained by gravitation into an existing sewer of the Council, to erect any building to
be used, wholly or in part, as a dwelling-house, or to adopt any building to be used,
wholly or in part, as a dwelling-house, except with the permission of the Council, and
subject to and in accordance with such regulations as the Council may from time to
time prescribe with reference to the erection of buildings on such land."
In concluding my Seventh Annual Report, I may again say, as in former years,
that so long as I am honoured with the confidence of your Vestry, it will be my
earnest endeavour to carry out the duties of the important office with which I have
been entrusted, with all necessary care and vigilance.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient Servant,
F. J. WALDO,
Medical Officer of Health.
1, Plowden Buildings, Temple,
21st March, 1899.