RIVER POLLUTION
Sta,The attention of the Board has been drawn to the paragraph in the "Country Life" column of the issue of The Spectator on the 9th instant
by Sir William Beach Thomas, K.B.E., in which he comments upon the condition of the River Lee, presumably in the portion of the valley where he resides. He is quite correct in stating that the river in the upper reaches formerly abounded in fine trout and other fish, and no one deplores this present position more than the Lee Conservancy Board, who have iurisdiction over it. There are various reasons for this over some of which the Board have ,no control. The latter are due to the war and are of a temporary nature only.
The position is also rendered unsatisfactory by reason of the draining of certain lakes of considerable extent which acted as settling out areas for the Luton effluent. The Conservancy Board have for a long time brought the utmost pressure to bear upon the Luton Corporation to Improve the unsatisfactory state of their sewage works, and as a result of this pressure the Corporation have constructed extensive new sewage works at a cost of some L400,000 to £45o,000. These works are almost Completed.
With regard to trade effluents from works in the town, the Board's officers are constantly calling attention to these and the owners have been Obliged to instal oil interceptors, which are frequently inspected by the officers of the Board. In defence of the Corporation it may be pointed out that since the war a very considerable increase of population has taken Place, occasioned by the influx of war workers and refugees. This caused the old sewage works to be overloaded, with the result that a considerable Pollution took place. When the new works have been in full working order for a time and when the rainfall returns to normal it is to be expected that there will be a great improvement in the condition of the river.—Yours Clerk of the Board and General Manager. The Lee Conservancy Board,
Brettenham House, Lancaster Place, Strand, London, W.C. 2.
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