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32
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
WATER
The Metropolitan Water Board, the Colne Valley Water Company together with the Rickmansworth
and Uxbridge Water Board supply Brent with water. These supplies are not subject to plumbo-solvent
action and have been satisfactory both in quantity and quality. All dwelling houses and flats have a piped
supply direct from the mains and there were no complaints of any contamination during the year. Frequent
bacteriological and chemical examination of the water is carried out by the various undertakings.
SEWAGE AND DRAINAGE
Most of the sewage from the Willesden area of the Borough is discharged into the Greater London
Council main sewers, and all that from the Wembley area together with a small amount from the Park Royal
area is discharged into the West Middlesex Main Drainage system.
The arrangements for sewage disposal are adequate and also those for sewerage with minor exceptions
due to local flooding associated with severe storms.
REFUSE DISPOSAL
The Borough Engineer and Surveyor's Department deals with the provision of dustbins.
House refuse is collected weekly and trade refuse as often as required at an agreed charge. The
Greater London Council is responsible for the disposal of refuse by controlled tipping and by separation and
incineration.
SWIMMING BATHS
The Borough Engineer and Surveyor has kindly supplied the following information in respect of the
five swimming baths in the Borough.
The water for filling the baths is obtained from the mains supply. It is regularly chlorinated and plant
of sufficient capacity to ensure breakpoint chlorination is installed at each pool. The capacity of each bath and
the time taken for the whole of the water to pass through the filters and treatment plant is as follows: —
Time taken for water to
Capacity pass through filters, etc.
(gallons) (hours)
Granville Road Baths 145,000 4
Gladstone Park Swimming Pool 500,000 6
Willesden Sports Centre Swimming Pools (3) 532,000 6½
Kingsbury Swimming Pool 464,000 4½
Vale Farm Swimming Pool 400,000 5
339 samples were taken, of which 38 were unsatisfactory. (See Public Health Laboratory service
page 36).
When samples were found to be unsatisfactory, immediate investigations were made and the
various causes remedied.
SANITARY INSPECTION OF THE AREA
Details of inspections carried out are shown in Table 27. Two inspectors were engaged on special
surveys in smoke control areas.
Demolition and Closing Orders
Demolition Orders were made by the Council in respect of property at 143 Watford Road, Wembley,
and 10 High Street, Wembley.
A Closing Order was determined in respect of 54 Howard Road, N.W.2 (First Floor).
Slum Clearance and Area Development
The High Court action concerning the South Kilburn (Extended) Area C.P.O. 1 was heard in the
High Court in October, 1967. The Judge dismissed the appeal against the Order initiated by certain property
owners in the area comprising 417 premises and redevelopment is now proceeding.
House-to-House Inspection and Multiple Occupation
House-to-House inspection was carried out during the year. Although hampered by shortage of staff
and the difficulty of carrying out "work in default", a great deal of work was done in combating multiple
occupation to secure the provision of amenities and general repair. This is a most time-consuming project
and many additional public health inspectors would have to be recruited before any appreciable inroads into
the problem could be made.
104 notices under section 15, Housing Act, 1961, requiring the provision of additional amenities and
111 directions under section 19 of the Act to overcome overcrowding in houses in multiple occupation were
served. During 1967, the Department assumed responsibility for the provision of means of escape from fire in
dwelling houses under Section 16 of the Housing Act, 1961. 56 notices were served during the current year.