HH62/2/LANARK/86

Transcription

[Page] 85

been repeatedly made, showing, in some instances, un-
doubted indications of sewage contamination.
Rutherglen and South Govan are wholly supplied by the
Glasgow Water Commissioners.
In the sparsely populated and comparatively isolated
Parish of Carmunnock, the water supply, which is almost
entirely from wells, appears to be fairly good as regards
quality, and for the present, at all events, sufficient to meet
the necessities of the inhabitants.
On the whole, therefore, the necessity of a further supply
of water fit for domestic use in the Lower Ward is
practically limited to that part of Cadder Parish embracing
the villages of Garnkirk, Gartcosh, Muirhead, Chryston,
Stepps Road, Old Auchinairn, and adjoining dwellings, and
in these the question is of the most pressing character.
The very large asylum at present in course of erection at
Gartloch, in the same neighbourhood, will be forced to find
a good water supply from one or other of the water com-
panies, and it is hoped that an attempt will be made
to arrange for a supply to the destitute places in the same
neighbourhood.

Drainage. - There are three drainage districts within the
area of the Lower Ward, viz.:- Barony, embracing the
greater part of Shettleston and Tollcross; South Lenzie;
and Carmunnock.
Barony Parish. - This, as already indicated, is practically
all included in the Barony Special Drainage District -
important additions having been made during the year,
while others are in course of being carried out. The Chief
Inspector, in his report, estimates the length of sewers at
6 miles 240 yards.
There are still portions of the parish where drainage is
required, and I have no doubt but that the Committee will
give these their early consideration.
The South Lenzie District, in Cadder Parish, has been
handed over, under certain conditions, to the Commissioners

[Page] 86

of the Burgh of Kirkintilloch. The primary reason for
making such an arrangement was the fact that towards the
Burgh of Kirkintilloch was the only way by which Lenzie
could be drained except at very great cost. However, the
working out of the arrangement has been productive of
much dissatisfaction on the part of the inhabitants of
Lenzie, as they allege that the sewers are not properly
flushed, that the ventilating openings are too few and
placed in improper situations, and that, therefore, serious
nuisance is caused. The dispute has been brought under
the notice of the Board of Supervision, and by it been
referred to an engineer.
At Chryston, Muirhead, Garnkirk, Bishopbriggs, Auch-
inairn, Stepps, and other small villages, the drainage is of
the ordinary primitive character met with in Scottish
villages, viz.:- an open channel running alongside the foot-
path, and more or less out of repair, permitting of formation
of small pools of stagnant water.
I am not prepared to say that such channels, if reserved
exclusively for slop water, and kept thoroughly clean, are
not perhaps the best adapted means for the purpose they
are intended to serve, inasmuch as, when foul, the nuisance
becomes soon apparent, and can be easily removed. In
nearly all the parts of the parish, as indeed throughout the
Lower Ward, it is part of the duty of the roadmen to
periodically clean out these channels, at any rate in the
more populous parts of the district.
In the other parts of the Lower Ward District the
question of drainage is not one of much urgency, unless it
be at Eastfield, Burnside, and Gallowflat, in the Parish of
Rutherglen.
it is necessary to mention that in no instance is the
sewage treated before admission into the streams, but it is
allowed to enter in its crude state. In view of the putting
in force the Rivers Pollution Prevention Act, this aspect of
the question is one which the Committee will be bound to
seriously consider at no very distant date.