HH62/1/FIFE/9

Transcription

[page 8]

that most of them were grossly polluted. The analyst's reports will be
found in the District Report, and they were submitted to a meeting of
Strathmiglo Local Authority in August 1876. Attempts were thereafter
made to improve the water supply by cementing the walls of the wells
and by removing sources of pollution, but no radical measures were
attempted. The reports on the Water Supply of Kettlebridge and
Strathmiglo were referred to a committee for consideration, who advised
that as regards Strathmiglo, "Where the gutters are exceptionally bad,
or where such circumstances as 'the position of the wells' require it,
glazed fireclay gutters should be laid to prevent stagnation or soakage
of sewage into the soil."
These reports on the Water Supply of Kettlebridge and Strath-
miglo were considered by the Committee to represent the general
condition of the village Water Supply in Cupar District, and therefore
no other report has been submitted to the District Committee. To
deal with the whole question of the Water Supply of the villages in
Cupar District is a very important and extensive one, and no attempt
has as yet been made to deal with it in a manner consistent with its
immense importance, and no scheme, except the introduction of water
from a source removed from the possibility of the organic pollutions,
which accumulate near to houses, can, in my opinion, be considered
sufficient. The order in which the Water Supply of villages should be
dealt with must depend on various circumstances, but the necessities of
Strathmiglo and Kettlebridge place them amongst the first. There are
Special Water Districts at Newburgh and Pitlessie.
In St Andrews District I have reported specially on the Water
Supplies of Largo, Lundin Mill, Kilconquhar and Barnyards, Guard-
bridge, and indirectly on St Monans Special Water District, but with
special regard to the assessment having reached its maximum, and pre-
venting the possibility of dealing with insanitary conditions in St
Monans, which will be referred to afterwards.
In regard to Largo, the Report pointed out the serious want of a
proper water supply for such an important and thriving sea coast resort
- the present supply being from shallow wells - and the result has been
very satisfactory, as requisitions have been sent to the Local Authority
for the formation of Special Water Districts. It is gratifying to find
that measures recommended for the public good are received in a spirit
like this, and not with the opposition and ill feeling usually encountered.
Lundin Mill is also to be supplied with water by a branch from Leven
water main.
Barnyards being only a hamlet, and in rather a decaying position
from a diminishing population, an expensive scheme could not be
carried out; but it was advised that a fairly good water supply by a
well, with the sides made impervious by bricks and cements, might be
obtained.
The question of a water supply for Guardbridge has been under
consideration for a long time, as will be seen in the District Report;
and it is hoped that, as at Largo, the inhabitants will take the necessary
steps to form a Special Water District, as at the present time the water
which is used for domestic purposes has been condemned after analysis.

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The water supply of Leuchars is by shallow wells, sunk in a bed of
gravel and sand. The principal well is at a lower level than the village.
It is therefore not at all a satisfactory means of water service. In the
various hamlets over the District, the water supply partakes of the same
doubtful nature, but means will gradually be taken, I hope, to improve
the quality of the water by remedies appropriate to the circumstances.
It will be seen from this general review of the water supply of Fife
- as far as it comes under the supervision of the County Council - a
very great deal has to be done before it can be considered that the pro-
visions of the Public Health Act, as regards water supply, have been
fulfilled.
As I have so frequently referred to wells close to, or in the midst
of populous places, as dangerous sources of supply, I think it desirable
to give my reasons for this opinion, and they will be found in the
Report to Dunfermline District, which deals with water supply.

GENERAL CONDITIONS OF SEWERAGE AND DRAINAGE
OF POPULOUS PLACES IN DISTRICTS.

In Dunfermline District, there are Special Drainage Districts at
Aberdour (Easter and Wester), Kelly, Limekilns, and Kincardine. In
Easter Aberdour the system is on modern principles, but at Wester
Aberdour there are many defects from want of sufficient ventilation to
the main sewer, and the outfall sewers are not carried out to low water,
and sewage matters are thus liable to be returned by the flowing tide.
Of this I have satisfied myself by experimenting with floats. The
defects above referred to will be remedied soon. In Aberdour there is
not sufficient care taken in many cases to disconnect the house drains
from the main sewers by a "Buchans" or other good form of trap.
In Kelty system of sewers, the original plan of the engineers was
departed from, and no proper means of ventilating the sewers was pro-
vided. The Kincardine sewerage system is also defective, from want of
ventilators and means for flushing the sewers. Limekilns system is
apparently sufficient, but more care should be taken by householders to
have thorough "disconnection" from the main sewers.
In the various villages in Dunfermline District, there are no proper
drainage systems, and special reference must be made to Crossgates,
which, from want of a system of sewers, is rendered most insanitary,
and many nuisances at present existing cannot be prevented from want
of proper drainage. The difficulty in dealing with Crossgates has
already been referred to when dealing with the question of water supply,
and it is to be hoped that it will be overcome by the scheme now
adopted.
In Kirkcaldy District, there are various Drainage and Special Drain-
age Districts. At East Wemyss there is a Special Drainage District,
and I have reported specially on the state of the drains and sewers there
to the District Committee, pointing out the very defective state of
matters existing from household drains discharging into the burn which
flows through the village, and from the main sewer outfall discharging
above low water mark, and many private drains discharging on to the