HH62/1/FIFE/51

Transcription

[page] 50

and likely to lead to sewage matters being sucked into the water supply
pipe, especially after any intermission of pressure in the pipes. This
matter was reported by me in a report prior to my official appointment.
Scavenging was formerly undertaken by the Local Authority, but, in the
meantime, this is done in a perfunctory manner until it is decided who
is responsible. To the north side of the village, quite close to houses,
are many pigstyes and hen-houses, as well as accumulations of house
refuse. Arrangements are being made to have these removed. Water
latines are being erected to supply the wants of the inhabitants.
There is great need for a good system of drainage, for the reasons
given above, as well as for others, which will be referred to under the
section referring to infectious diseases.
East Wemyss. - The village is supplied by a branch of Wemyss
water main, but there are two wells at present in use, and which I have
asked permission to get analysed and shut up, if polluted, as there is
every reason to believe they are. One is quite close to a graveyard,
and the other surrounded by houses, and below the level of a burn
polluted with sewage, which runs within 20 yards of it.
The drainage of the village is very defective, being effected in part
by badly-laid gutters, and in part by underground drains. The main
sewer discharges into the sea, but is not carried far enough out. Very
many private drains discharge through the sea wall on to the foreshore,
leading to very great offence, especially in summer. The burn which
passes through the village receives the sewage of many houses, and
then discharging on to the foreshore contributes to the serious pollution
of the beach.
Public latrines, with flushing tanks, are provided, but many of the
houses are not provided with any means of accommodation. An entire
block of tenements, with numerous tenants, has no accommodation or
ashpits. This village cannot be considered to be in a satisfactory state.
West Wemyss is provided with water from the Wemyss water
main. The drainage is by side gutters and underground drains.
There is a necessity for further extension of the drainage system and
improvement of the side channels. Public water latrines are provided,
but many of the houses are not provided with any manner of accommo-
dation. Scavenging was undertaken formerly by the Local Authority;
but by resolution, adopted at a meeting of the District Committee, it
was decided that the servants of the Local Authority should only attend
to the cleansing of the property of the Local Authority, such as latrines,
public ashpits, and the gutters, &c., of the sewerage system. Many
of the houses are not provided with ashpits, and the inhabitants throw
house refuse into the streets; and, in consequence, the village has
become most unclean and offensive.
This village would almost require a special sanitary inspector for
itself, as the habits of the people tend to the causation rather than the
prevention of nuisances.
For convenience of reference a table is appended showing the
number of houses and persons per house, in villages referred to at
census 1881; also, conditions of water supply, drainage, state of clean-
liness, and general state of houses as I found them on my inspections.

[page] 51

RECOMMENDATIONS.
The various defects of water supply and drainage referred to show
that there is a very great deal to do in Kirkcaldy District to put matters
right. The question of water supply is one which does not present
difficulties which may not be overcome by money and with time, but
the question of sewers and drains is in a very different position. There
are some of the villages referred to as needing sewers, but the engineer-
ing difficulties are so serious, and the expense which would be incurred
so great, as to render the execution of the works impracticable. In
addition to these difficulties there is another one, certainly not the least,
and it affects all sewerage systems in how to get rid of the sewage
after sewers have been constructed. When the village is on the sea
shore or near to it, there is not much difficulty; but when, as in many
of the villages referred to, the distance to the sea may be 10 miles, the
case is different. It may be assumed that the provisions of the Rivers
Pollution Prevention Act will be adhered to, and that streams will not
as formerly be made to perform the duties of sewers; and, further, that
those towns and villages disposing of their sewage in this manner will be
called upon to respect this Act.

TREATMENT OF SEWAGE.
The problem, as it affects the villages with which we have to deal,
resolves itself into a narrow one, inasmuch as no scheme involving a
great expense can be entertained. Those who have studied the subject
know that, of schemes for the purification and utilisation of sewage there
is no end; but here, only those that are likely to meet the necessities
of the case, and restricted to two in number, will be referred to. The
first, and the one which seems to me to be widely applicable, is broad
irrigation. In this the sewage, after straining, is distributed in channels
over well-drained land, on which vegetables and crops are grown. The
best soil is a sandly loam, and about an acre for every 150 people is
needed.
The other method to which I intend to refer might be used when
ground for irrigation is not available, and is called the "International
Process." It is based on the principle of (1) precipitation by chemicals,
and (2) further purification by filtration. The system is at use at
Larbert Asylum, Stirling, and has been found to work well.

GENERAL AND SPECIAL ENQUIRIES.
After the account of the general sanitary state of the District, it
will only be necessary to refer to special enquiries, which have been the
subjects of reports to the District Committee.
The conditions of Westfield, Rosewell, and Flockhouse Colliery
Villages, as to their general insanitary states, have been very frequently
before the District Committee, and these places have been visited
repeatedly, along with members of the District Committee. These
visits were not made entirely in connection with insanitary states
prevailing there, but with regard to the possibility of obtaining a source
of water for a gravitation supply. A special visit, along with members
of the Committee, was also made to Lumphinnans Colliery Village, in