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Four new Precipitation Tanks of 600,000 gallons capacity
constructed during 1903, are now in full working with the necessary
apparatus in connection therewith. The tanks are arranged so that
they may be used on the intermittent or continuous principle.
The effluent from the Precipitation Tanks will then pass through
about f acres of first Contact Beds. The feature of the new Works
is the ample provision made for the effectual aeration of the whole
system.
The lower outfall takes the Sewage from one Institution only,
viz., Hanwell Asylum, and discharges into two covered tanks, the
combined capacity of which is about 57,000 gallons. The Sewage
from these tanks is pumped up through a rising main and discharges
into a well at the liming house before mentioned, and then passes
through the same process as the District Sewage. The precipitated
sludge passes into a sludge well near the low level tanks, and is
pressed into cake form by means of a filter press.
The effluent is tested every day, with a view to ascertaining the
efficiency of the process.
The whole of the machinery at the works is driven by gas
engines, the gas being supplied from a Dowson gas generating plant.
(b). Removal of House Refuse.
During the year 2550 loads of refuse have been removed from
the houses in the District; the system in vogue is a weekly collection,
the refuse from each house, except where unavoidable, being removed
once a week on specified days. The refuse of the house is stored in
galvanized iron bins, which, when emptied, are dusted with carbolic
powder. A great improvement is apparent in the specially constructed
dust carts now in use by the Council over the old form of tip carts
formerly supplied by the contractor.
The work is carried out by contract at a rate per day for horse,
harness and man; the Council supplying the cart and dustmen. The
District is divided into three Sub-Districts for the purposes of collecting,
and reports are made daily to the Surveyor as to the progress of the
work from each of these Sub-Districts. It is a pity that with such an
efficient method for the removal of refuse, that the method of disposal
is so primitive. Under his contract the contractor is bound to find
his own shoot, and this with a rapidly growing district becomes more
difficult every day; the consequence being that the refuse finds its
way into the disused sand or gravel pits frequently situate at or near
the rear of houses in course of erection, and although constant supervision
is exercised to see that no nuisance is created by covering the
refuse with earth or gas lime, the practice must be deprecated inasmuch
as a subsoil composed of such material and especially where so short
a distance from the house, cannot be conducive to the health of the
inmates. Under these conditions a refuse destructor should be
erected so as to dispose of the material collected in the most sanitary