Folios 80-82. To: Charles E Deacon, Town Clerk and Clerk to the Local Board of Health,...

Folios 80-82.

To: Charles E Deacon, Town Clerk and Clerk to the Local Board of Health, Southampton [Hampshire].

From: The General Board of Health.

Subject Matter: Draft letter having reference to the plan of the proposed outfall drainage works for Southampton, which have been under consideration by the General Board. It is observed that this scheme appears to be entirely based upon the idea that pumping arrangements should be provided only for the smallest possible portion of the sewage of the town, 'an idea which is wholly at variance with the views upon which the scheme of drainage for the town was originally laid out and submitted to this Board for approval, and according to which the works have been executed'. It is explained that if it had been considered that the drainage of Southampton could be properly dealt with as now proposed, the arrangement of the sewers would have been very different to what it is, but it was the opinion of the General Board that the town could not be efficiently drained without raising the sewage at the outfall, 'and subsequent proceedings have only tended to confirm those views with regard to towns so situated as is a large portion of Southampton'. It is further observed that to avoid pumping, it is now proposed to return to the old objectionable system of storing the sewage in the town between the intervals of the tide, and for this purpose to construct, at a large expense, a considerable additional length or reservoir sewers. It is suggested that with such a system of drainage, a town can never attain to a good sanitary condition, 'for not only will deposit continuously take place, but at each tide, as the sewage rises in the system of sewers, the foul air is forced therefrom into the midst of the population. The General Board therefore request the reconsideration of the subject by the Local Board.

It is suggested that by the adoption of some increase of the pumping power proposed, the town may be continuously freed from the whole of its sewage as fast as it flows, and the large outlay on reservoir sewers altogether obviated. Whatever plan is adopted, it is further suggested that deodorising works should form part of it, and that with proper arrangements the discharge may take place by the present outfall at the Floating Bridge without any inconvenience. Some further particulars are said to have been requested of Mr Marriott with reference to his plan, 'but it appears evident that the reservoir sewers and the pumping power proposed would be wholly inadequate during heavy rains, without the use of the outfall at the Floating Bridge, and overflows at other points'.