THE FLOODS AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

138

THE

FLOODS AND

(FROM

OUR

PUBLIC

SPECIAL SANITARY

HEALTH.

COMMISSIONER.)

THE floods affecting, not only the Thames valley, but many other parts of the country will tax the resourcefulness of our sanitary authorities to the utmost. The dampness caused by the water that invades dwelling houses is, of course, unwholesome ; but the specific contamination due to the filth floating in the water may be more dangerous. In spite of great sanitary progress, no system of drainage has been devised that can protect dwellings from sewage if the floods reach a sufficiently high level. The water in the sewers, of course, can only carry the sewage away when the outfall is at a lower level than the sewers, save where the conditions warrant elaborate pumping or exhaustion schemes. On the water rising at the outfall it penetrates the sewers, and the first thing that happens is the forcing back of a large volume of sewer air. If the sewers are not well ventilated at frequent intervals the sewer air pressed backwards by the rising flood will break the seal of the domestic drains and invade the dwelling-rooms of the houses. The actual toxicity of sewer air is not now in questionanyhow, no one wants it in the house. If the water rises higher still the sewage itself overflows from the street and yard gullies or sewer mouths. If there are closets in the basement of the houses the sewage will come out of them into the house. If the closets in the house are above the level reached by the flood there will of course be no overflow from the closet; but the lower portions of the soil pipe connecting with the sewer in the street may not be strong enough to resist the unusual pressure. The drain pipe may then burst, and then the sewage may be distributed alike upon the streets and inside the houses. The Floods and the

Sewage Disposal

Works.

Even where the flood is not so extensive as to produce an extreme effect it is very likely to invade the sewage disposal works, for these must be at a very low level, and this means frequently proximity to a water course. This is not a matter

found to be covered with a thick and odoriferous layer of sewage sludge. The whole system of sewage disposal has become inoperative, and the only hope is that the immense volume of water produced by the flood will suffice to purify the foul matter it carries away. In the swollen river, in streets that have become small rivers, there may be A current, and a sufficiently rapid current, to wash away decomposing matter. But inside a house, confined within the four walls of a basement or a cellar, there is no current. The water stagnates and deposits filth on the walls and floors as it gradually subsides. The Contamination of In many flooded

Dwellings by Floods.

districts, especially among rural popula-

tions, there are no sewers. Even in comparatively large provincial places it will often be found that the watercarriage system is only applied to the more favoured parts of the town. There are still provincial towns of some size where, as well as water-closets, there are cesspools, privy middens, or pails. The cesspools are emptied by nightsoil men once a year or oftener, while the pails are generally removed once a week. When a flood occurs in such a place the soil, of course, mixes with the water and floats away from the pails or privies, is carried all over the inundated district, into the houses, and into the wells. Thus, water and dwellings are contaminated. All these risks are now with us over a large area, and in some districts are aggravated by the large number of camps for the training of the Territorials and other troops. We know how severe the floods have It is to be hoped that the latrines been at Salisbury. for the soldiers encamped in the neighbourhood are constructed according to the most approved principles; but, even so, no system has been invented that will prevent % flood lifting out the contents of a latrine and scattering it about. A reasonable step would be to remove the camp to a district out of reach of the flood-a very practical objectlesson in military training, for when the enemy discovers the right range their shells come more rapidly than a flood. Then there is other dangerous matter besides the contents of sewers or cesspits. Apart from waste products coming from yards where skins are tanned, tripe prepared, offal dealt with, and many other unpleasant and unwholesome industries carried on, there is the vast accumulation of household refuse, the contents of our dust-bins. That, again, is scattered in all directions and brought inside our houses by the invading floods. Remedial ffeasures,

which need unduly frighten us. It has been calculated that the sewage from a total population of one and a quarter million people, living in the Thames valley, ultimately reaches the Thames above the intake of the London watersupply. Yet few, if any, cities enjoy o pure and safe a water-supply as London. The sewage in the Thames valley is carefully treated and purified before it is allowed to flow From all this there results the obvious necessity of into the Thames, while the London water-supply is kept applying very prompt and vigorous measures for cleansing safe by the efficient methods of storage and filtration and disinfecting the portions of the houses that have been employed. submerged. This, indeed, must be extended to all parts of The chief concern in London, of course, is the protection the buildings where the damp has extended, even though it of the water-supply from the floods. In 1894, after severe may be some distance above the highest water level. To noois, there was a considerable amount of typhoid fever in give time for this to be properly done, it is fortunate if the London. But since that date the water-supply, especially waters subside gradually, as all the dwellings cannot be the storage of the water, has been greatly improved. The treated at one and the same moment. When the floodswater reservoirs are now of such vast dimensions that the are beginning to go down, disinfectants, notably chlorinated water may remain standing for a very long time before it is lime, in suitable quantities should be thrown into the drawn off for use. This prolonged settling process, apart water that remains in the basements or cellars. There from filtering, greatly facilitates purification. There is no it should mix with the sludge or mud the by deposited reason to fear in London that the flood waters will water on the walls and on the floor. The mud should be be mixed with the drinking water. The storage is piled up in some open space and sprinkled over with a so enormous that the intake of Thames water can disinfectant. The walls, floor, and ceiling of flooded rooms be stopped for a while. London is drinking Thames or cellars will require very careful washing and scrubbing, and water now which was collected before the floods. It is finally should be thoroughly whitewashed. A flood provides to be hoped the stored supply is sufficient to meet all an excellent opportunity for a general clearing. Rubbish and wants till the floods are over, but the rainfall has been lumber that may have accumulated during years in cellars or a very exceptional one and the floods have prevailed under staircases and basements is rarely worth saving, and for

When the great reservoir was built at Staines can now be very advantageously destroyed, burnt if possible. complaints were made that its embankments were so Bedding, if it has been soaked in suspect water, should not, lofty that they blocked out the view and spoilt the be spared unless it be of such very good quality as to warrant Now that the incurring the scenery of the surrounding country. expense of thorough disinfection. Such cleaning floods are carrying away the contents of privies, and work requires strict supervision. It is questionable whether distributing broadcast the filth from neighbouring all the sanitary authorities concerned have at their disposal sewage works, we may be thankful that these embank- numerous staffs to ensure that efficient measures will be are too ments lofty for the floods to flow over taken. This is an occasion when the county medical them and contaminate the store of drinking water forofficers of health may have to exercise their right of London. ;supervision over the smaller district sanitary authorities. When a flood invades sewage works it swamps the filter-The cleansing of flooded houses must be well donebeds and scatters the untreated sewage in all directions. everywhere, and not strictly enforced in one locality After the floods have subsided the neighbouring fields areand neglected in another. some

time.

.