View report page

50
SEWAGE DISPOSAL.
No further progress has been made in the treatment and disposal of
the sewage on previous years.
Precipitation by the aid of lime, black ash and iron sulphate, followed
by broad irrigation over the sewage farm, sufficed, as in former years,
and no complaints of a serious nature have been made by those
interested in the production of a satisfactory effluent by your authority.
A considerable portion of the farm has been under drained, which
will, no doubt, improve its efficiency as a filtering agent.
Owing to the excessively heavy rains experienced during the year,
which have in some directions been of advantage to the district,
there has been serious inconvenience in two or three of the low.lying
portions of the town.
The sewers, which are quite sufficient for the ordinary rainfall, were
absolutely inadequate for carrying off the abnormal downpour, resulting
in serious flooding of the cellars of a great number of houses in the
months of June and July.
The Council at once took into consideration the possibility of
improvement in the size or otherwise of the surface.water sewers, and
the Engineer and Surveyor were directed to make suggestions .and
submit them to the Council.
As a result, several improvements at the Sewage Works, and in the
sewers of the district, have been made.
A new surface water sewer was laid down in Forest Road, Chingford
Road, Hoe Street and Queen's Road, and the soil and surface.water
sewers in Ashford, Cranbrook and Brunner Roads were reconstructed.
In addition, eight new man.holes have been constructed for flushing
purposes at the heads of sewers.
There were no complaints of smells arising from the sewers in the
streets, and no new ventilating shafts have been put down during the
year. Those in operation—51 in number—have worked satisfactorily.
HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES.
As I reported last year, ample house accommodation is provided in
your district for the working classes; but the rents prevailing in parts
adjacent to the railway stations are too expensive for the ordinary
labourer with a family.