View report page

42
Since then the disposal of the sewage and the production of a
satisfactory effluent have been sources of anxiety to the Council, but
nothing of a permanent or satisfactory nature has been accomplished.
The treatment of the sewage by precipitation by the aid of lime and
"black ash" and iron sulphate, followed by irrigation over the Sewage
Farm, has been attended with varying results.
With the ever-increasing population of the district and consequent
increased amount of sewage to be dealt with, the question becomes
pressing if your Authority is to avoid trouble with the neighbouring
Authorities.
During the year a deputation visited Barrhead and other Sewage
Works, owing to a resolution of the Council in 1901—"That the time
has arrived when the Council should make arrangements for either
carrying out the system of Septic Tanks, or make vast improvements at
our Sewage Works, so as to be able to treat successfully the enormous
increase of sewage owing to the increase of inhabitants the last ten
years," and made a valuable report with suggestions, and concluded by
reporting that " the removal of the sewage out of the district would be
preferable" to any system that could be devised, and that it would be
preferable to continue our present system, with amendments, rather than
rush into heavy expenditure in the laying down of an entirely new
system of treatment.
Practically since that report was issued in March, 1902, little has
been accomplished, with the exception of some underdiaining on
portions of the Farm.
In July the Lea Conservancy Board issued a notice to discontinue
the alleged pollution of the Dagenham Brook, and a letter was received
from the M.O.H. of the Borough of Hackney, inviting this Council to
form a deputation to the Lea Conservancy Board as to the carrying out
of their scheme for the drainage of the Lea Valley. On October 8th,
the Lea Conservancy Board asked for an interview with the Council as
to their proposed schemes for the drainage of the Lea Valley. On
October 27th, your Council in Committee met the deputation and
recommended that a meeting should be held at an early date to consider
the matter, and on November 14th it was agreed, " That the Council
looks upon Scheme B with favour, and that this Council hopes that all
the other authorities along the Lea Valley will also favour Scheme B,
and that those authorities will respectively do what lies in their power
to agree upon some method of carrying out this scheme, and that the
Lea Conservancy Board be asked to call a meeting of representatives of
the various authorities concerned as early as possible."