[Report 1896] / Medical Officer of Health, Maldon R.D.C.

  • Maldon (England). Rural District Council.
Date:
1896
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1896] / Medical Officer of Health, Maldon R.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    which shortly afterwards joins the Blackwater. At one point along this creek are a number of privies discharging direct on to the foreshore, a condition of affairs which should receive the serious attention of the Malclon Rural District Council. At Heybridge Basin a small group of houses discharges sewage direct into the Blackwater. ” The sewage which passes into the tidal river or estuary from the Rural District is exceedingly small compared with that from the Borough of Maldon, but as both discharge into the estuary 12 miles from its mouth and 10 miles from any oyster layings, and the estuary has a width from 2 to 3 miles, the pol¬ lution is infinitesimal. The sewerage of Heybridge, however, is capable of much improvement, but the place lies so low that any general system of sewerage would necessitate pumping, or the pro¬ vision of large storage tanks, involving a considerable expenditure. Some time ago I reported upon the foul condition of the creek and advocated the removal of the privies discharging directly into it. The Council caused the creek to be cleansed, but left the privies, as no nuisance was complained of by the users, and the houses have no gardens upon which the fsecal matter could be disposed. Pail or earth closets could be substituted if some arrangement were made for periodical removing and cleaning the receptacles. At Goldhcinger there are ditches which become offensive every summer on account of sewage stagnating therein. A committee met here some two years ago, and made certain recommendations, but these have not yet been acted upon. At both Upper and Lower Althorne there are serious nuisances arising from a similar cause. In the higher portion of the parish many cottages have no garden or back yards, and I again recom¬ mend that an attempt be made to obtain ground at the back (as has been done at Steeple and Latchingdon), so that the privies can be removed further from the cottages, &c. The Bye-laws referring to the removal of house refuse, cleansing of privies, &c., are not enforced with sufficient strictness. The