'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎140v] (285/470)

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(38) Conservancy. —An important section of the Department’s work consists in
the maintenance of public latrines and the disposal of excreta therefrom, as well as
from the private cesspit latrines possessed by all permanent dwelling-houses.
(39) The type of public latrine used in the ‘Ashar district is two cut kerosene
tins, one behind the other, with a raised concrete foot-rest on either side. There
are now 36 blocks of these with 230 compartments for males, and 30 blocks with 147
compartments for females; further, eight blocks of pit latrines at points where
height of ground permits of this type have been constructed.
(40) In the refugee camps between ‘Ashar and Basrah there are 24 blocks of
latrines with 144 compartments; a tin type of latrine is in use on account of the
low level of the ground. Both in ‘Ashar and in the camps the contents of the
latrine tins are disposed of in beehive incinerators, after mixture with dried horse
litter or with bhoosa; there are 27 of these incinerators in ‘Ashar, and nine in the
refugee camps.
(41) In Basrah deep pit latrines covered by a slotted wooden platform are in
public use; 15 blocks with 56 compartments have been provided. This type was
first constructed early in 1917, and has proved satisfactory as regards comparative
freedom from either attraction or breeding of flies. It has, however, been found
necessary to introduce modifications to prevent the crumbling away of the sides of
the pit, and a pigeon-holed brick lining is now built, together with a small brick
surround on which the platform rests. Such a pit is emptied as required into closed
iron filth-carts, and its contents are dumped in date gardens adjoining the town.
(42) In addition to the above, eight public urinals have been erected in ‘Ashar
and Basrah; the principle adopted is the use of a brick-lined pit with a concrete roof
perforated to admit four funnels, with a ventilating shaft and with an emptying eye.
(43) Private house cesspits and the covered cesspools for domestic suilage water
constructed within each courtyard are also dealt with by this Department. These
cesspools serve a useful purpose in the absence of any drainage scheme in that they
keep the domestic waste water from being thrown on the roads, but it will be
advantageous if gully-traps can be introduced to prevent the effluvia from rising
into the houses. Earlier in the year considerable difficulty was experienced in
emptying these cesspits owing to insufficient transport, but this is now satisfactory
and there only remains the ever-present difficulty of keeping the cesspit gang up to
strength—for the Arab does not take kindly to this work and vacancies cannot be
filled by the usual labour organisations.
(44) Anti-Fly Measures. —The year under review proved to be as satisfactory
as 1917 from the point of view of comparative freedom from flies, although Basrah,
with its greater proportion of native dwellings, was less favoured than ‘Ashar. The
somewhat higher standard of attention to the ordinary details of practical sanitation,
combined with additional provision of public latrines, has lessened the amount of
material suitable for the deposit of eggs, while the use of sprays and traps has
directly killed off many adults. It may be noted that routine inspection during the
year revealed extensive breeding in stacks of dates and in heaps of damaged grain,
in addition to the common breeding places dealt with in the ordinary course of
scavenging.
(45) Sanitary Works. —Sanitary works, in the nature of the, construction of
soakage pits, latrines, incinerators or slaughter-houses, recommended by this
Department, are executed by D.A.D.W. (Civil). In the first half of the year much
delay was caused b} 7- difficulty in obtaining materials, but the position is now more
satisfactory, and new work, of the estimated cost of Rs. 36,000, has been completed
or is in progress, while repairs to existing structures have been effected at an estimated
cost of Rs. 14,000/—. In all, 92 items were sanctioned during the year, and work to
the value of Rs. 9,000 remains outstanding.
(46) Water Supply.—Daring the whole of the year chlorinated water has been
available for Basrah and the refugee camps, and in May it was found possible for
the military to extend the piped supply so as to provide 15,000 gallons daily to the
civil population in ‘Ashar. The necessary branch mains were laid and six stand
pipes were erected at selected spots in the town and, although only an intermittent
supply could be gi\ en, the installation was much appreciated; this provision was
under contemplation at the time of the cholera outbreak, and its execution was
hurried forward on that account. It was, however, pointed out that for a population
of 19,000 this daily supply was insufficient to warrant the policing of the creeks and