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TO THE HONOURABLE
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISION.
MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
I HAVE the honour of submitting for
your consideration a Report on the County of
Linlithgow for the year ending 1891.
Area and Population.
The County, with an area of 120 square miles,
has a population of 52,789, and has increased by
9279 in the last 10 years. Of the total popula-
tion, 20,329 reside in the various Burghs, which,
with the exception of the small Burgh of Whit-
burn, have each a medical officer of health.
Whitburn has applied to the combined Counties
of Mid-Lothian, West Lothian, and Peebles, to
have my services.
Two Districts - the Linlithgow and the Bathgate.
The County is divided into two Districts - the
Linlithgow, which comprises the Parishes of Lin-
lithgow, Abercorn, Borrowstounness, Carriden, Dalmeny, Ecclesmachan, and
part of Kirkliston; and the Bathgate District,
composed of the Parishes of Bathgate, Torpichen, Livingston,
Uphall, and Whitburn. The population of
Linlithgow District is 23,774, but excluding
Burghs 13,046. The population of Bathgate Dis-
trict is 29,015, but excluding Burghs 19,414. |
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Services of former Medical Officers of Health dispensed with.
All the former local Medical Officers of Health
acting for the parts of the County outside the Burghs
have been dismissed and compensated.
The County's industry is mainly Mining, and
thus there are a number of villages and hamlets
made up of colliers' 'rows.'
Scarcity of Water.
In consequence of the increasing industry in
shale and coal, a very serious condition as regards
water supply has been brought about; for a large
part of the County has been so drained by under-
ground workings that during last summer, which
was an exceptionally dry one, many were in great
straits for enough water with which to cook their
food. In fact, a condition of matters exists at
present which calls for immediate remedy. In
some villages the inhabitants have had to use the
water pumped from the mines where men were at
work. A more dangerous source of supply could
scarcely be had. In other places ditch water,
often badly fouled, has been the only source for
many families.
I am glad to say the District Committees have
not been slow to foresee the water famine which
has been rapidly approaching. They have in a
praiseworthy manner exerted themselves to their
utmost to as speedily as possible provide for this
most pressing want, but I am sorry to mention that
nothwithstanding their great efforts the speed of
their project has been and is now being hampered.
However, there is still hope that their exertions
shall meet with the success they deserve.
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General Sanitary condition, Drainage and Scavenging; and the Difficulty of making Sanitary Progress owing to Defects in the Public Health Scotland Act.
The general Sanitary condition and the Drain-
age and Scavenging of many places are far from
what they should, be, and the shortcomings in the
Public Health Act render their rapid improvement
impossible. I shall only instance two separate
cases of glaring nuisances, to show how difficult it
is for progress to be made in the right direction:
- In the hamlet of Bridge House Rows, a property
belonging to a Glasgow coal master, the people
prefer to drink from the ditches to going a long
distance for a somewhat purer supply. The water
of these ditches at the times of my visits was
fouled in the most disgusting way it could be - by
human excreta. The drains were untrapped. The
privies, of which there was only one for each 33
inhabitants, were filthy, broken - down, brick
structures connected with open ashpits. The
Sanitary Inspector for long urged the proprietor
to improve matters, but the dilly-dallying of the
latter forced Mr. Frew to seek my certificate,
which was granted. The case came before the
Sheriff-Substitute, who had several courses open
to him, and chose that one which allows him to
appoint a third party to report, and on whose
report he shall decern. In this case the third
party, it might be thought, would be an expert in
Sanitary work. But no, he was an architect in the
town of Linlithgow. Nearly two months after the
date of my certificate, the Sheriff gave judgment
on the report of the Architect - the opinion of the
Sanitary Officials being thus set aside. |
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Another very much more serious case pressing
for immediate attention was the condition of the
Colliery rows of the Kinneil Coal and Coke Com-
pany, near Bo'ness. Here, at the time of my visit,
typhoid fever was raging. In four houses within
a radius of 30 yards, I found the disease, and on
inquiry at the local medical men ascertained that
other five cases within a stone-throw of these then
ill had only just recovered. Now this den of
disease was composed of houses containing some
1200 inhabitants, - 150 of these live in a row of
houses without any kind of convenience at all.
The ashes and refuse are thrown out in front of
the doors, and the privies of the other rows are so
filthy, so few and far away, that the condition of
the place may be well imagined. The Sanitary
Inspector proceeded against the Company. The
case was heard on the same day as the Bridge House
Rows case, and, notwithstanding the dangerous state
of matters, the same procedure was here followed as
in the other case. The testimony of the Sanitary
Officials was practically put aside, and a third
party, the same Architect, was asked to report,
and the case still awaits this report for settlement,
urgent though it may be.
The fault of course lies with our Public Health
Act, which can allow of the remedying of a most
dangerous nuisance of this sort being shelved
perhaps indefinitely.
The only Special Drainage District in the
County is Broxburn, in the BATHGATE DISTRICT,
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but Grangepans Drainage District, in the LIN-
LITHGOW DISTRICT, has just been formed, and a
drainage scheme for there will shortly be under
consideration.
The Scavenging of Villages is a subject which
calls for remedial legislation. A Deputation of
our Medical Health Society waited upon the Lord
Advocate recently, with the object of explaining
the difficulties District Committees have in con-
nection with this, and asked him to explain to
the Secretary for Scotland (who was unfortunately
unable to meet the Deputation) the urgency
of giving Local Authorities powers to form
Scavenging Districts, as they have power to form
Drainage and Water Districts.
Special Investigations.
Apart from frequent general inquiries as to
the Sanitary State of the County, I made special
investigations of -
I. - THE WATER SUPPLY IN THE COUNTY.
II. - POLLUTION OF THE RIVER ALMOND.
Water Supply of Linlithgow District.
I. - (1) WATER SUPPLY IN LINLITHGOW DIS-
TRICT. - I have already indicated how badly off
the County is for good water. In this District,
excluding, of course, the Royal Burgh of Linlith-
gow and Police Burgh of Bo'ness, there are the
Special Water Districts of Kirkliston and Dalmeny
formed in 1888, and embracing part of the estate
of Clifton Hall, in Mid-Lothian, the Village and a
portion of the Parish of Kirkliston, the Village |
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and part of the Parish of Dalmeny, and the Royal
Burgh of Queensferry. The water is from the
Morton Burn, Parish of Kirknewton, Mid-Lothian.
The village of Grangepans is supplied from the
Special Water District of the Burgh of Bo'ness at
6d. per 1000 gallons.
The villages of the Linlithgow Oil Company,
with a population of 1500, have their supply
pumped from a quarry. This supply is quite
inadequate, and an impounding reservoir, sufficient
for a month's supply, is much needed at once, for,
if anything goes wrong with the pumping gear,
the villages shall be totally unprovided for.
A portion of the Parish of Carriden is at present
supplied from the Bo'ness works, the gathering
ground of which is in the neighbourhood of
Carribber.
Amalgamation and Extension of Kirkliston and Dalmeny Water Districts.
The villages of Winchburgh, Westerton, and
Niddry, each with a population of about 500, are
greatly in need of water. To two of these places
the owners of the houses - Young's Paraffin Oil
Company - contemplated laying a pipe from the
Kirkliston and Dalmeny works. This might have
been accomplished, but that consideration was
given to the fact that other districts would in
the near future be in want, and this led to a
scheme being proposed by the District Committee
to amalgamate Kirkliston and Dalmeny, hitherto
paying different rates, and to extend the Water
District so as to include the whole of the Parish
of Dalmeny and the whole of that part of the
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Parish of Kirkliston situate in Linlithgowshire,
and in which lie Niddry and Westerton. On
the Committee passing a resolution for exten-
sion, it was forthwith advertised; but appeals to
the Sheriff were intimated by the North British
Railway Company, the Forth Bridge Railway Com-
pany, and by Mr. Hog, of Newliston. The Sheriff-
Substitute, on hearing evidence, has sustained the
appeals. The Committee has still the power to
appeal to the Sheriff-Principal; but if his decision
is against them, they will, no doubt, consider some
other way of carrying out a pressing need.
The village of Philpstoun (population 500) has
been badly off for water; but a supply is being
now brought in by the Oil Company there.
The village of Linlithgow Bridge (population
1000) is supplied from pump wells, very liable
to pollution. Neither Bo'ness nor Linlithgow are
prepared to serve them, and so a Committee has
been empowered to report upon the best method
for their relief.
Water Supply of Bathgate District.
(2) WATER SUPPLY IN BATHGATE DISTRICT. -
There are already in existence the East Whitburn
Special Water District, getting its water from
the Police Burgh of Whitburn; the Uphall Water
District and the Broxburn Water District, both
supplied from the West Binny reservoir, which
on the two occasions I visited it last summer
was almost dry, and the filters unmanageable, the
town of Broxburn being compelled to use water
pumped from a mine where men were at work |
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The reservoir supply is one liable to pollution,
and the sooner these large communities are pro-
vided with another and purer water in greater
amount the better. The other Special Water
District is Bridgend, which has its supply from
the Bathgate Commissioners, and is wholly at
their mercy.
The villagers at Uphall Station have to depend
upon a field drain, and if it dries they must use
a filthy stream passing by their doors.
The villages of Cappers and Bathville may be
said to be without any supply. The former during
last summer was using water pumped from the
workings where men were employed.
The Deans houses depend on a shallow well
much exposed to pollution, and the water of which
is decidely impure.
The houses of Starlaw have at present no
supply.
The villagers of Woodend (population 300),
near Armadale, have to fetch water from a
shallow well in an old coal-pit at Barbauchlaw
Mill, distant some hundreds of yards.
Easterhouse, near Armadale, gets its supply
from the same well, which is a long distance
from it.
Blackburn has a very indifferent supply -
shallow wells, liable to pollution.
I furnished a report to the District Committee
of the inadequacy of the present supply in many
places, and of the total want in others; and I
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also visited the gathering ground of the Forest
Burn, in Lanarkshire, where the Airdrie and Coat-
bridge Water Company proposed increasing their
supply. The gathering ground I consider would
suit admirably for Linlithgowshire.
The Bill promoted by the Airdrie and Coat-
bridge Company passed the Committee of the
House of Commons; but was successfully resisted
in Committee in the House of Lords by the County
of Linlithgow.
Proposed Water Scheme for Bathgate District.
It is this source that is now proposed for the
supply of the whole of the BATHGATE DISTRICT.
The District Committee having received a
report from Messrs. Leslie & Reid, Engineers, on
the practicability of the scheme, recently passed a
resolution recommending to the County Council
that the 'Public Health (Scotland) Act, 1891'
be adopted, and that application be made in
terms of the said Act to the County Council, to
determine that the areas embraced in the Special
Water Districts at Uphall and Broxburn - at
Bridgend and at East Whitburn - shall cease to
exist as Special Water Supply Districts. After
difficulties in connection with procedure were
aranged, the County Council finally approved
of the scheme, and application was made to the
Secretary for Scotland for a Provisional Order
to enable the carrying of it out.
It is estimated that the population in the
BATHGATE DISTRICT requiring water, - excluding
the Burgh of Bathgate, but including Armadale |
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Burgh, which is in great want, - is over 16,000.
Thirty gallons per person would be, roughly,
500,000 gallons as the minimum daily supply.
As it is necessary to keep in mind that we
have an increasing population, the Committee
have felt justified in recommending a scheme for
double this amount, or 1,000,000 gallons daily.
The total cost of such a scheme, including
initial cost of reservoirs and pipes, cost of land,
Parliamentary expenses, and absorption of existing
Special Water Supply Districts, is £48,300, which
it is proposed shall be borrowed by way of
annuity repayable, say, in thirty years. This
means an annual payment of about £3000 a
year. The Committee have applications from
public works to furnish 400,000 gallons daily
per diem for trade purposes, and for which they
expect 4d. per 1000 gallons. This would realize
a revenue of £2000 a year, leaving £1000 to be
rated for. A Public Rate of 1/2d., and a Domestic
Rate of 6d. is calculated to meet this; or a Domestic
Rate of 8d., and no Public Rate at all.
II. POLUTION OF THE RIVER ALMOND.
The Pollutions of the River Almond, and how they may be prevented.
In the month of June, the County Clerk
intimated that arrangements were arrived at
with Mid-Lothian and Lanark, to obtain from
the respective District Committees full and ex-
haustive reports by their Medical Officers and
Sanitary Inspectors on the particular sources of
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pollution of the River Almond in each District
of each County, and of the remedies they would
suggest in each case.
In September I was able to issue my Report,
which was as follows:-
(The annexed Plan is reduced from the Original in
the Report.)
"At the request of the Counties of Edinburgh and
Linlithgow, I have this summer examined the Sources
of Pollution of the River Almond, with the view of
suggesting means of remedy.
The river flows through three Counties. In my
investigation in part of the County of Lanark I was
accompanied by Colonel Menzies of Viewfield; Dr.
McLintock, Medical Officer; and by Mr. Dobson,
Sanitary Inspector. In West Lothian and Mid-Lothian
I was assisted by a report by Mr. Frew, Sanitary
Inspector for the County of Linlithgow, and by
information furnished by the constabulary, through
the kindness of Colonel Borthwick. In Midlothian,
Mr. Lindsay, Sanitary Inspector, visited along with
me most of the places involved in the inquiry.
I have, at the outset, to state that there may be a
number of minor pollutions which have escaped my
notice, and perhaps a few of some importance, but I
have investigated all those I could hear of which
materially contributed to the impurities in the river.
I may here add that I experienced a little difficulty
at some works, from having to search out sources of
pollution which I believed existed, but were denied
by those in charge. It is thus possible that the total
pollutions from several works are understated. |
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The River Almond has its origin in the Parish of
Shotts, Mid Ward of Lanarkshire. Formed by the
junction of two small streams, at a point about a
quarter of a mile east of Batten, the river has but a
very short course in that county - not more than two
miles, or three miles if Hassockrig Burn is included.
Its length through Linlithgowshire and Mid-Lothian
down to the sea, following the windings of the stream,
is, roughly, twenty-eight miles. Eight of these lie
wholly within Linlithgowshire, and twenty form the
boundary between the two counties.
The total length of the river from the junction of
its two sources is thus about thirty miles. From the
junction of its two sources to its exit point at the sea,
as the crow flies, is twenty-three miles. The general
direction of the flow of the river is north-easterly.
The water along its whole course has an ochry colour.
Fish cannot live in it. Horses, cattle, and sheep
drink sparingly of it, if at all, and for industrial
purposes it is almost useless on account of its
destructive effects upon boilers.
The How Burn, a tributary, rises in Lanarkshire,
but does not flow into the Almond until it reaches
Linlithgowshire.
The polluting tributaries in Lanarkshire are Has-
sockrig, one of its sources, and a burn from Benhar:
those in Linlithgowshire are, on the north, How Burn,
Loch Shotts Burn, Caw Burn, Beuch Burn, Broxburn,
and Ecclesmachan or Niddry Burn; and on the south,
the Breich Water, which receives from the north,
Meadowfoot Burn, Fauldhouse Burn, and Crofthead
Burn: while those in Edinburghshire are the Breich
Water receiving Muldron Burn, the Longhill or
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West Calder Burn, Harwood Burn, Linnhouse Water,
East Calder Burn, and Gogar Burn.
Any other pollutions enter the Almond directly.
The actual situation of the source of each pollution
is indicated in the accompanying Plan (drawn 1 inch
to the mile) by discs, marked in arithmetical pro-
gression from west to east, as the river is followed
downwards. On referring to the numbers in this
Report while perusing the Plan, the nature of at least
the principal pollutions is seen.
These numbers, with the main deleterious contribu-
tions, are as follows:-
No. 1. Wester Hassockrig Colliery - Dross washing.
- Two small tanks are used with the
object of favouring precipitation, but
these are practically useless.
No. 2. Messrs. R. Addie & Sons' No. 2. Ironstone
Pit. - Irony water from Pit and 'blaes'
heaps.
No. 3. Benhar Company's Pit - situated near to
Addie's No. 3 Pit. - Irony water pumped
from this pit is allowed to settle in a tank
before being discharged. This arrange-
ment has, however, not materially
lessened the pollution of the river.
No. 4. Messrs. R. Addie & Sons' Ironstone Pit,
No. 3. - From this pit, now simply used
as a pumping station, 528,000 gallons of
irony water are thrown out daily (the
figures have been furnished me by the
owners). There is, besides, soakage of
irony water from the old bings. |
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No. 5. Benhar "Rows" sewage.
No. 6. Eastfield 'blaes' soakage. - This goes to the
How Burn.
No. 7. Harthill No. 1 Pit - 'Blaes' soakage.
No. 8. Harthill sewage, flowing to How Burn.
No. 9. Westrig Colliery - Dross washing. - Here, as
at Wester Hassockrig, tanks prove quite
inadequate, and the wash passes into the
How Burn.
No. 10. Dixon's No. 13 Ironstone Pit. - No water
is at present being pumped to the surface.
There is a small soakage from bings.
No. 11. Dixon's 'blaes' heaps. - These contribute
irony water flowing into Fauldhouse Burn.
No. 12. Southrig Colliery - Dross washing. - Here
the wash is allowed to flow out over a
small bit of moor before discharging into
How Burn. This has practically no effect
in reducing the pollution.
No. 13. West Lothian Oil Company's Works. -
The arrangements here for purifying the
effluent are of the most primitive kind,
and quite inadequate. Water from the
separators flows into Fauldhouse Burn.
No. 14. Muldron Iron Mines (disused). - Irony
water is discharged in considerable amount
from the old workings.
No. 15. Crofthead Ironstone Pits, Nos. 1 and 5. -
These throw out 360,000 gallons of irony
water in twenty-four hours. (The figures
are furnished me by Mr. Thornton, the
owner.) The water, when pumped, has a
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muddy, yellow look, and unlike that from
Addie's No. 3 Pit, which comes from the
mine perfectly clear in colour. It flows
into Crofthead Burn. There is also here
some bing soakage.
No. 16. Fauldhouse sewage.
No. 17. Crofthead sewage.
No. 18. Whitburn sewage.
No. 19. Blackburn sewage.
No. 20. Addiewell 'Rows' sewage.
No. 21. Addiewell Works, and some outside surface
drainage and bing soakage. - Effluent from
separators is restricted as to degree of
impurity.
No. 22. Breich Oil Works. - Tarry matters and bing
soakage find their way to the river.
No. 23. The Deans Oil Works (Crude). - Tarry
matters, etc., are conveyed to the river
by the Loch Shotts Burn.
No. 24. West Calder sewage.
No. 25. Gavieside sewage.
No. 26. Hermand Oil Works. - Surplus effluent not
used in cooling shale escapes to Harwood
Burn. There is likewise bing soakage.
No. 27. Hermand 'Rows' sewage.
No. 28. Livingstone Village sewage.
No. 29. Bell's Quarry sewage.
No. 30. Inveralmond Cottages sewage. - Very small.
No. 31. Uphall Village sewage.
No. 32. Uphall Works 'Rows' sewage - falling into
Beuch Burn. |
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No. 33. Uphall Works. - Surface drainage and bing
soakage escape into Beuch Burn.
No. 34. Pumpherston North 'Rows' sewage. -
This, by mistake, has been laid down in
the Plan. Irrigation of this sewage is
satisfactorily effected.
No. 35. Pumpherston South 'Rows' sewage. - This
goes directly to the Almond.
No. 36. The Holmes Oil Works. - Tarry matters
and soakage from bings flow into Beuch
Burn.
No. 37. Bonemill Drainage.
No. 38. Pumpherston Oil Works and Bings. -
Pollutions flow in two directions: (a)
directly to the Almond; (b) into Caw
Burn. The latter burn, some distance
from the works, to all appearance is pure,
but on analysis it yields about 450 grains
of solids per galllon. Before receiving
pollution, the amount of solids is under
30 grains. There is here, as in the other
works, bing soakage.
No. 39. Midcalder sewage. - Amount considerable.
No. 40. Oakbank Oil Works and Bings. - Over
200,000 gallons of water (figures sup-
plied me by the Company), strongly
tainted with all the usual pollutions of
such works, are filtered through an old
bing, and pass into the Linnhouse Burn
daily.
No. 41. Oakbank 'Rows' sewage.
No. 42. Broxburn Town Sewage. - This is an
important pollution.
[Map inserted] |
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No. 43. Hopetoun or Niddry Oil Works and Bings.
- Dirty water pumped on to bings.
Surface drainage and bings soakage
partly flow into a disused pit, and partly
go into Ecclesmachan Burn.
No. 44. Broxburn Oil Works and Bings. - Outside
surface drainage and bing soakage are
here apparently the only noxious in-
gredients escaping.
No. 45. East Calder sewage.
No. 46. Hopetoun 'Rows' or Niddry sewage.
No. 47. Camps Limestone Quarries. - From these
quarries a great quantity of water is
pumped. It contains a large amount of
mineral matters in suspension when work-
ing operations are being carried on, but
comes out perfectly clear on Sundays,
when no men are at work below.
No. 48. Kirkliston Village sewage.
From the above, it will be noticed that Nos. 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12 are situated in Lanarkshire;
Nos. 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 28, 31, 32,
33, 36, 37, 42, 43, 44, 46, and 48 in West Lothian;
and Nos. 14, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 34, 35, 38,
39, 40, 41, 45, and 47 in Mid-Lothian.
Further, it will be seen that all the pollutions come
under one of five classes, namely:-
1. Sewage.
2. The washing of coal dross.
3. Limestone mining.
4. The manufacture of paraffin oil.
5. Ironstone mining.
These I shall now discuss in their order. |
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SEWAGE POLLUTION.
From the nature of the composition of sewage, it
rapidly oxidises on entering a stream, the water of
which, on running some distance, is rendered com-
paratively pure, excepting for potable purposes, when
there is always danger from the spores of disease
germs. When, however, large quantities enter from
villages, some form of sewage irrigation is called for.
This can be effected in most cases of sewage drainage
at present flowing into the river or its tributaries.
POLLUTION FROM THE WASHING OF COAL DROSS.
The minute division of suspended particles, and
their lightness, render cleansing of 'gum' wash only
possible by one means. A practical demonstration of
how this may be effected can be seen at Woodend
Colliery, near Armadale, where there is a very large
wash pumped into tanks dug in the refuse bings, and
regularly scraped out to prevent clogging. (I may
mention that the bings are largely made up of coke
refuse.) By this simple means the filtrate oozes out
at the bottom of the bings perfectly clear. Filtration
then, after some fashion, is the remedy for this
pollution.
POLLUTION FROM LIMESTONE MINING.
This source of pollution may be very easily pre-
vented by the construction of a settling pond. The
suspended matter is heavy, and settles rapidly.
POLLUTION FROM PARAFFIN OIL WORKS.
The solid matters at such works which are liable to
pollute streams are mainly -
(1) Tarry matters, the cleansings of plant -
pipes, etc.
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(2) Vitriol tar, the cleansings of the oils treated
with sulphuric acid.
(3) Soda tar, the cleansings of the oils treated
with caustic soda.
The vitriol tar is washed with hot water to secure
the vitriol for further use, and the tar along with the
soda tar is in most works burned, and in some works,
as that of Broxburn, utilised as fuel by being blown
into the furnaces along with steam. This satisfac-
torily disposes of the bulk of such matter, although
small quantities in some works often escape and find
their way into streams.
The water at a Paraffin Oil Work, in which crude
oil, sulphate of ammonia, naptha, burning and lubri-
cating oils, paraffin and paraffin candles are manufac-
tured, may be stated to be as follows:-
(1) Clean water used in the boilers for gener-
ating steam.
(2) Water resulting from condensation of steam
employed:
(a) In the various distillations of the oils,
and afterwards separated by Separators;
and
(b) In the cleansing of naptha from melted
paraffin in the process of refining the
latter. This water is a comparatively
small quantity.
(3) Water manufactured in the process of de-
structive distillation of the shale, amount-
ing to about 30 to 40 gallons per ton of
shale used - which water, plus water
(other 30 to 40 gallons per ton of shale)
resulting from condensation of the steam
blown into the shale in the retorts and |
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escaping decomposition, is separated from
the crude oil by Separators, which allow
the oil to float and pass off above, and
the water to be drawn off from below.
This water is afterwards exhausted of its
ammonia by heat, and the ammonia is
recovered by sulphuric acid.
(4) Water used for condensing the oil vapours,
and which may either be a pure water
such as (1), or dirty water of the works
cooled in cooling ponds for the purpose.
(5) Water used for cooling the paraffin in the
candle moulds, in candle making.
(6) Water employed in dissolving the caustic
soda used in refining, and afterwards
separated from the oil.
(7) Water used for washing out the vitriol from
the vitriol tar, and afterwards separated
from the vitriol.
(8) Surface drainage water -
(a) From rain, leakages in plant, spilling of
fluids, etc.
(b) From refuse bings.
In a work where the water supply is plentiful,
perhaps the simplest and cheapest method of dis-
posing of the water which has been used in the
manufacturing processes, and of that derived from
the shale, both of which are highly impregnated with
various chemical products and tarry matters, is to let
it run into the nearest stream - of course polluting it.
This is practically how some of the works solve the
question of their liquid, if not solid refuse disposal.
At one work I visited, the whole of the water -
excepting a quantity pumped on to the spent shale
[Page] 21
bing for cooling - is filtered through an old refuse
bing, and falls into an adjoining burn. The Manager
informed me that there they have a plentiful water
supply, and that about 300,000 gallons of water pass
into the works daily. About three-fourths of this
quantity pass out, carrying with it the various
impurities.
In some works a portion of the dirty water is
passed to a pond, through which the truck loads of
how spent shale are drawn to be cooled; or, as at
Champfleurie, near Linlithgow (not in the Almond
district), an automatic arrangement may be put in
operation, whereby a quantity of dirty water falls
upon each hot shale truck on its passage to the bing.
In both of these ways the water is got rid of by rapid
evaporation. The former method is to be seen at
Addiewell, although here water from the separators
(restricted, however, as to degree of impurity) goes
out from the work, and ultimately reaches the
Almond.
In works of recent construction the whole of the
dirty water is used up, and almost nothing escapes
into the streams, except occasional surface drainage.
As examples of such works, we have Champfleurie
and Broxburn. In these works the tarry matters are
consumed as fuel, and the dirty water is partly
evaporated in slaking hot shale, and partly collected
to cooling ponds to be cooled down, and used over
and over again for the condensers. In none of the
works have I have seen any method of catching bing
drainage and outside surface drainage, and satisfac-
torily disposing of them. But it is to be noted that
works' surface drainage, in works collecting their
ordinary surface drainage to a dirty water tank, |
| HH62/2/LINLIT/23 |
[Page] 22
mainly goes into streams in any quantity when
they are in flood, and the impurities are at once
largely diluted. This cannot be said of bing soakage,
which might, by the way, be drained to catch pits, and
pumped to the dirty water tank. But bing soakage
need not pollute to any great extent, if dirty water
be not pumped on to the bings, as at some works.
The degree of pollution of the water of any stream
by a paraffin oil work varies according to the size of
the stream, but mainly, of course, to the method in
use in disposing of the dirty water and tarry refuse.
At one small crude work which I examined, the dirty
water pond contents were supposed to be pumped on
to the refuse bing, but at the time of my visit the
pumping gear was all out of order, and apparently
had not been used for some time, and evidence was
clear to me that the contents were let off by a pipe
leading into a ditch, which showed unequivocal signs
of such method having been adopted.
Now, can this pollution of the Almond and its
tributaries by paraffin oil works be completely pre-
vented, or can it, at all events, be minimised at com-
paratively little cost to such an extent as to allow of
the streams to remain so pure that no offensive smell
or taste is perceptible in their waters? I think both
questions can be answered in the affirmative, for we
at least have examples pointing so far to both being
possible.
If it were not for the bing drainage and the surface
drainage (entering, as a rule, when streams are in
flood, and therefore less harmful), such a work as
Champfleurie, near Linlithgow (which, by the way, is
out of the district of the present inquiry), shows us
there is no need to pass dirty water from a work.
[Page] 23
Again, we have in Addiewell an example of what
can be done by care, watchfulness, and a sufficient
number of good separators, in keeping a large effluent
from appreciably polluting the streams into which it
flows. The effluent from Addiewell Works, by an
order of the Court of Session made some fourteen
years ago, must be of a certain standard of purity.
This standard, which has been kindly forwarded me
by Mr. Fyfe, managing director, is as follows:-
'The discharge into the Breich Water and the Longhill Burn
shall, on analysis and calculation, to the imperial gallon not exceed
the following proportions:-
-- Discharge into Breich Water. -- Discharge into Longhill Burn.
Matter in solution, -- 25 grains. -- 100 grains.
Matter in suspension, -- 10 grains. -- 25 grains,
The discharge to be neutral, or, if
acid, then the acidity is not to
exceed, when reckoned as sul-
phuric anhydride, -- 5 grains. -- 5 grains.
Paraffin products as determined -
(1) From discharge alone,
(2) From the residue of 1 with
soda, -- Distillate added to fifty
(3) From the residue of 2 with -- ounces of ordinary Edinburgh
sulphuric acid by distil- -- water shall not render the
lation of one ounce by -- latter unpalatable or unfit for
measure in each trial, -- primary purposes.'
from twenty ounces by
measure of original dis-
charge,
I drank the water of Longhill Burn, into which
Addiewell effluent flows, and failed to find any smell
with it, or unpalatable taste. What is done in this
respect at Addiewell can undoubtedly be done at
other works.
I am therefore of opinion that, if the 'best practi-
cable and reasonably available means' be employed
to prevent pollution from paraffin oil works, they shall
prove successful. |
| HH62/2/LINLIT/25 |
[Page] 24
POLLUTION FROM IRONSTONE MINING.
There are two classes of water from ironstone
workings:-
(1) Water pumped from the mine, which comes
up either almost perfectly clear, as at
Addie's No. 3 Pit in Lanarkshire, or with
a muddy like appearance, as at Crofthead
Pit, where it has already, before pumping,
been subjected to conditions favouring
precipitation of some of its iron which
appears in suspension.
(2) Refuse bing soakage, which is not very large
in quantity, but extremely rich in iron
salts, and very acid in reaction.
The first class (1), or pumped water, is highly
charged with ferrous salts. On exposure to air and
motion, iron is precipitated partly as a carbonate and
partly as a hydrated oxide, the water assumes an
ochry hue, and the irony deposit coats the stones and
bottom of the river all along its course. The water
of the other class (2), or bing soakage, is clear, and
of a rich mahogany tint, and holds its iron almost
wholly in solution, and mainly as ferric salts.
I made a number of experiments with these waters
to find some easy method of purifying them.
The pumped water, clear on coming out of the pit,
became opaque in an hour. On standing 48 hours, a
quantity of its iron was deposited, but it still re-
mained somewhat opaque, and distinctly irony. On
standing a week, the water became perfectly clear,
but iron in solution was in considerable quantity.
On standing two weeks, there still remained a large
amount of iron in solution.
[Page] 25
The bing water underwent no change on standing,
as was to be expected.
By adding 2 drachms of freshly slaked lime to 1
gallon of the pumped water which had stood for 48
hours, and shaking, a complete precipitation was
effected in less than 10 minutes, leaving a clear water,
free of even the faintest trace of iron. A larger
quantity than 2 drachms was required 24 hours earlier.
The addition of 10 drachms to 1 gallon of the bing
soakage, and shaking, effected as complete purification
and decolourisation in the same time as 2 drachms did
with the other.
A point of great practical importance is this, that
unless lime is added in sufficient quantity to cause
marked alkalinity, the precipitate is slow in falling;
but if it be added in sufficient quantity, the water in
a few minutes is rendered absolutely free of iron.
Another point of equal importance is the condition
in which the lime is when added. If freshly burned
limestone be used, even in a comparatively fine state
of division, a quantity equal to three times the weight
of the freshly slaked lime is required to give as satis-
factory results in the same space of time. The reason
of this is that the presence of too much water pre-
vents the lime assuming that peculiar condition
known as slaked lime, in which the stone falls to an
almost impalpable powder, exposing an enormous
surface to act quickly in producing alkalinity. Care,
therefore, in properly slaking is a desideratum.
Agitating at the moment when added is, of course,
desirable. In working with large quantities of water,
perhaps a good plan might be to add milk of lime,
which is simply properly slaked lime well stirred
with water; or to have recourse to some method of |
| HH62/2/LINLIT/27 |
[Page] 26
churning the slaked lime with the irony water at the
moment of its addition. I have specially laid stress
on the words freshly slaked, for slaked lime rapidly
becomes carbonated from exposure to the air.
In suggesting a way of preventing pollution of the
Almond from ironstone water, I would then point out
that for the pumped water, which, from its quantity,
is the only difficult one to cope with, a well-arranged
system of settling tanks, with means of thoroughly
mixing freshly and properly prepared slaked lime
with the water would effectively secure the desired
end. Cleansing of such tanks would require careful
attention, and the removal of the enormous quantity
of sludge, much labour. The bing water can be
collected by well planned drains, and similarly
treated. Its very small quantity offers no difficulty.
I am thus of opinion that by using the means above
indicated this pollution of the Almond by irony
water, and which ranks about first of all its pollutions,
can undoubtedly be wholly prevented, and dealt with
in a thoroughly satisfactory manner.
There still remains the question:- Is this means of
prevention in the meaning of the 'Rivers Pollution
Act' a means that can be considered a practicable
and reasonably available one? I do not know how
ironstone mining pays in this district, but I fear that,
were efficient measures to be employed in purifying
the pumped water from these ironstone workings, all
profits would at once disappear. If this be so, the
process proposed cannot be said to be a practicable
one as far as the owners of these pits are concerned.
But considering the works are so very few - some
three pits altogether now being carried on - is it not
worth the while of the riparian proprietors below
[Page] 27
these pumpings to aid the ironstone masters in
getting rid of a pollution which poisons the stream
from its fountain-head to its exit at the sea, and
spoils the amenity of the whole district through
which it flows?"
Since the above Report was sent in I have
ascertained that mining for ironstone has been
given up, and that these pits from which the
polluting iron water comes are worked simply
for the coal they contain, one being used as a
pumping station only. It is thus the one industry
- coal mining - that would be slightly interfered
with should these pits cease operations. The
Joint Committee of the Districts of the Counties
interested are now taking advice of Counsel, so
as to be fully satisfied of the extent of their
powers, and upon receipt of which some definite
line of action may be expected to follow.
Dwelling-houses : Their condition might be slowly made satisfactory by acquiring Legislative Powers.
With regard to the Sanitary condition of
Dwelling-houses, I have the same suggestion to
make as that given in my reports for the other
Counties of Mid-Lothian and Peebles, namely,
that to secure healthy houses such legislative
powers are necessary as shall enable Local
Authorities to prohibit occupation of all houses
erected after a certain date until they are certi-
fied to the Local Authority as being properly
drained, substantially built, and with the requi-
site conveniences of an approved kind. This is the
only way, though a very slow one, of ultimately
having our dwelling-houses as they should be. |
| HH62/2/LINLIT/29 |
[Page] 28
The wells in connection with most dwelling-
houses in the County, so far as I have been
able to investigate, are frequently badly placed
and almost invariably fed by surface drains.
Special Complaints.
In July a Memorial, signed by 20 landlords
and farmers, complaining of the smoke caused by
Philpstoun and Champfleurie Works as being a
nuisance, was sent to the Linlithgow District
Committee, who handed it to me for a report.
I was unable to find that a nuisance existed
within the meaning of the Public Health Act,
and this was intimated to the Memorialists.
Bake-houses : Power for Local Authorities to make Bye-Laws much required.
I inspected the Bake-houses of the County,
and found that in LINLITHGOW DISTRICT (outside
the Burghs) there are two bake-houses, and these
are in the village of Kirkliston. Neither of them
is satisfactory.
In BATHGATE DISTRICT (outside the Burghs)
there are three Co-operative Society bake-houses
and five private. The Society bake-houses are
much superior to the private, but they are not
what they ought to be. One small bake-house in
Broxburn is very dirty and without ventilation, and
I intend to try to get it closed as soon as possible.
No proceedings have been taken against any
of these bake-houses, but I would here remark
that in consequence of the inadequate provisions
in the Statute it would be most desirable to obtain
legislative powers for Local Authorities to make
Bye-Laws for bake-houses, as it seems to me that
this method would be the simplest and most satis-
[Page] 29
factory way of securing the cleanliness and care
so essential in conducting the manufacture of so
important a food supply as bread. Some of these
bake-houses are built in the same block with the
dwelling-houses, and consequently should such a
disease as scarlet fever occur in the dwelling-house
most serious contamination of bread might arise,
especially when the disease is so slight as not to
necessitate the calling in of a medical attendant,
and when of course notification of the disease
would almost certainly not be made.
Common Lodging-houses.
There are no Common Lodging-houses in the
LINLITHGOW DISTRICT outside the Burghs, but in
BATHGATE DISTRICT there are two on a large scale.
One of these is in Uphall, the other in Broxburn.
Both are places that should never have been
licensed, for they are quite unsuited for the purpose.
There is a smaller Lodging-house at Fauldhouse,
for 16 lodgers, which I have not yet seen.
The Hospitals in the County in which the
Local Authorities are interested are in LINLITH-
GOW DISTRICT, - Dalmeny Hospital, which is a
small cottage, now occupied as a dwelling-house,
and Bo'ness Hospital, a badly arranged, insanitary,
and altogether objectionable building. Into the
latter one patient was sent from the County
suffering from typhoid fever.
I have strongly advised the Local Authority
to lose no time in acquiring adequate and suitable
Hospital accommodation.
In BATHGATE DISTRICT there are Drumshore- |
| HH62/2/LINLIT/31 |
[Page] 30
Hospital Accommodation.
land and Broxburn Hospitals. The former is a
Combination Hospital, and lies at the extreme
end of the County, and is only suitable for that
neighbourhood and for the adjoining district of
Mid-Lothian which shares it. The latter was a
presentation Hospital originally meant for Brox-
burn alone. Its management is now under the
District Committee. Three patients have been
sent into it during the year. These Hospitals
are satisfactory, but as they are situated at the
extreme end of the District, I have laid before
the District Committee a recommendation that
a suitable Hospital should be erected in the
neighbourhood of Bathgate. If the Burghs of
Bathgate, Armadale, and Whitburn join with the
County, there could be erected at comparatively
small cost to the District sufficient accommodation
for infectious diseases.
Adoption of Notification of Infectious Diseases Act.
I have urged upon the Districts the adoption
of the Notification of Infectious Diseases Act.
LINLITHGOW DISTRICT has already adopted it, and
it came into operation on the 1st of January
1892. BATHGATE DISTRICT is on the eve of
adopting it.
Infectious Diseases in the County.
In consequence of the Notification Act not
having been in force during the year, I cannot
say exactly what amount of disease of the
infectious class has prevailed; however, I am
enabled to state through the kindness of the
medical practitioners of the County, that the
general epidemic of influenza occurred in the
[Page] 31
months of October, November, and December,
and was accompanied, especially latterly, by lung
affections. Whooping-cough was prevalent during
the first half of the year in Uphall parish; a
few fatal cases of diphtheria occurred in the Uphall
parish and neighbourhood of Whitburn; and a
few cases of scarlet fever were seen in Broxburn,
Kirkliston, Torpichen, and neighbourhood of
Bathgate. Typhoid fever prevailed at Woodend
and at the Kinneil Company's Rows near Bo'ness.
Births and Deaths for the year unascertained.
I regret exceedingly that I cannot fill up the
tabular form supplied by you to the District
Clerks and forwarded me, in consequence of being
unable to procure registration returns complete.
The District of Bathgate tried a course different
to that used by myself in the other Districts of
the various Counties to secure these returns, -
namely, through the Parochial Boards, - but with
the result that I have not received a single extract.
I trust by another year some means of securing
these necessary facts may be found.
I have the honour to be,
MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
Your obedient Servant,
W. J. BROCK, D.Sc.,
Medical Officer of Health for Mid-Lothian,
West Lothian, and Peeblesshire.
COUNTY ROOMS, EDINBURGH,
January 1892. |
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