[Report 1891] / Medical Officer of Health, Isle of Wight Rural District Council.

  • Isle of Wight (England). Rural District Council. n 83204987.
Date:
1891
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [Report 1891] / Medical Officer of Health, Isle of Wight Rural District Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    35/60 (page 35)
    I would again call your attention to the fact that when it is Ventilating necessary to carry a sewer ventilator to a considerable height, Sliafts- the best form of shaft is not used in your District. I have seen such a shaft carried higher than any shaft ventilator on the Island, independently of support, in as exposed a position as could be found in any part of the Isle of Wight. You obtained sanction to borrow £*]oo for the purpose of a Haylands sewer at Haylands, a poor district adjoining Ryde. As Hay- sewer* lands grew drains were made, free from control, on private land, and were ultimately connected, as regards those on the summit and the eastern slope of the ridge upon which it stands, with the Ryde system of sewers. That portion of Haylands situated on the western slope of the ridge was in part drained by a sewer which emptied into cesspits. Some years ago it was in contemplation to tunnel beneath the ridge, in order to discharge the sewage of this western section into the Ryde sewer also, and plans and specifications were ob¬ tained for this purpose; but it was hoped the less expensive scheme adopted, which met the exigencies of the moment, would prove sufficient for the future. But the cesspits were a continuing nuisance, and as it was necessary to lay down sewers in neighbouring roads, which would have increased the diffi¬ culty, you determined to connect either with the Binstead or Ryde sewer system, adopting, in the end, the latter alternative. The work was carried out in the early summer, and since its completion, the Ryde Parochial Committee and your Autho¬ rity have had much trouble in connection with claims for en¬ tering upon land without notice, for damage to crops, and injury to health from overflow of sewage, owing to a block in the sewer from the masonry of a lamp-hole dropping into it. You have had also under consideration the design and mode of construction of the sewer, it having been stated the accepted plan was departed from; and you appointed an independent engineer to report to you upon the whole subject, These matters have been so recently before you, it is unnecessary to go into further details ; but I would remark that it 'was re¬ ported to you some 1600 feet of the sewer dips slightly away from, instead of towards, the outfall, and that it contained stagnant sewage. This is very serious, and although, in any case, this sewer, as all other sewers, should be flushed, it is now absolutely essential either to force the sewage through the sewer mechanically, by means of a strong flush, or to relay a portion of it. There has been much delay in carrying out your decision to Totland Bay sewer Totland Bay, which has been in part due to the fact that sewer- the consent of three or four Authorities had to be obtained, and because the outfall had to be extended much farther sea¬ ward than wras at first contemplated. You have now been authorised to borrow £3,350 for the work,’which will not be