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Swimming Bath Water.
During 1955, 58 samples of swimming bath water were taken from the Council's
public baths at Woolwich, Plumstead and Eltham. These samples were submitted
to the Park Hospital, Hither Green, for bacteriological examination. All the samples
proved satisfactory. The Department carried out simultaneously its own tests
for free chlorine and hydrogen-ion concentration (pH value).

Boating and Paddling Pools.
With the co-operation of the Borough Engineer, the regular chlorination of
boating and paddling pools was continued throughout the year.
Pool attendants add chloride of lime to the pools each evening in quantities
prescribed, to give an estimated free chlorine content of 0-15 p.p.m. Sufficient
washing soda is also added to maintain a pH reaction of 8-0.
In addition, the pools are scrubbed out weekly with chloride of lime paste.
The results of these measures has been a consistent improvement in the purity
and appearance of the water.
Frequent tests made by the Department showed that the water was maintained
at a reasonable standard of purity.
HOUSING
Repairs.
At the end of 1955 there were estimated to be 41,956 dwellings in the Borough.
The number inspected for housing defects under the Public Health or Housing
Acts was 7,452 (compared with 7,365 in 1954) and 1,406 houses were found to be
not in all respects reasonably fit for habitation.
Some 1,038 houses were rendered fit by informal action by the Sanitary Inspectors.
This informal action included the service of intimation notices.
In 566 instances it was necessary to serve statutory notices in order to ensure
the carrying out of the requisite work.
House-to-house inspections under the Housing (Consolidated) Regulations, 1925,
were continued, the total number of inspections in 1955 being 2,247.
Overcrowding.
During the year eight families were found to be living in overcrowded conditions,
and reports were made to the London County Council on behalf of these
persons. In two cases the County Council provided other accommodation. A
further 193 families were visited after complaints of overcrowding or at the request
of the London County Council or the Borough Council Housing Departments.
Reports were sent to both Housing Departments setting out details of the applicants'
present accommodation.
Upon application being made by either landlord or occupier, the Council are
under an obligation to give in writing a statement of the permitted number of persons
in respect of any dwelling house, and measurements of dwellings for this purpose
were taken on 111 occasions, compared with 319 in 1954.
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