Health and sanitation (1898)

Post date: Jan 07, 2012 5:35:48 PM

The Rev. Grevile Livett reports frequently in The Wateringbury Parish Magazine on various epidemics affecting the village. In the February 1898 magazine he discusses the link between sanitation and health, the deficiencies of the current drainage arrangements and the practicalities of the village having either a general drainage system or a general water supply.

HEALTH AND SANITATION :—Once again the influenza is reported as rife throughout the country.There is no doubt that it is a markedly infectious disease; and it is peculiar in that it seems to take on some fresh symptom each time it appears in epidemic form. This time it is colic. Hitherto no one has suggested any connection between the course of the epidemic and detective sanitation; but speaking broadly it stands to reason that defective sanitation in a place means decreased vitality in the inhabitants and increased liability to succumb to infection of any sort. That the epidemic has been tardy in visiting Wateringbury, while many neighbouring places have been suffering severely, speaks well for the general healthiness of the village. At last, however, it seems to be taking hold of the place, and illness very much like influenza is very prevalent.

About sanitation. Wateringbury certainly does not merit the strictures implicitly passed upon it, with the towns and villages of the Medway Valley, in certain recent communications to The Times; but it cannot be said to be altogether free from danger. An occasional case of diphtheria proves the truth of this.

Shallow wells and old cess-pools exist in close proximity throughout the village. Here and there the water supply from spring or well is known to be permanently tainted, and is therefore avoided. Sometimes a stoppage in the drainage occurs without being detected and the water supply near at hand becomes tainted without the knowledge of those who use it. The only remedy for this danger is care and watchfulness on the part of all cottagers and householders.

Some people advocate the adoption of a general system of drainage; while others hold out the possibility and hope of a water company. Any general system of drainage would be enormously costly to the rate-payers, would be useless without an accompanying regular water supply, and even then, considering the unusually great natural difficulties of construction, might prove to be inefficient and a new source of danger. A general water-supply, apart from a new system of drainage, has more that can be said in its favour; but just now water companies are under suspicion.

As a matter of fact no system either of drainage or of water-supply could be made so perfect as to release householders and cottagers from the responsibility of constant personal attention to these matters. Drains should be flushed daily; cess-pools should have properly constructed overflows and should be regularly emptied at the proper time; and water which has not been proved to be above suspicion of impurity which comes from a source the position of which is in doubtful proximity to drains and cess pools should be boiled for drinking purposes. It would be of great advantage to householders in the place in general if someone would undertake to gather information as to the position of all drains, cess-pools and wells, and would mark them, with dimensions and depths, on a large-scale ordinance map.

The Parish magazine in January 1899, the following year then records that

The laying down of pipes which are to carry the water of Mid Kent Water Company through Wateringbury proceeds apace, and it behoves the Parish Council to act without delay if they wish the village to have the benefit of one or more hydrants for use in case of fire. Private householders might possibly have juncttions inserted near their houses by making speedy application to The secretary, Mr. F.L. Ball, Snodland , Kent.

See also Wateringbury smells abominably (1874).