View report page

SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE
AREA.
Water Supply.
So far as is known every house in the Borough, with the exception
of one flat in a shopping thoroughfare, where the supply is
obtained from an artesian well which is also the source of supply
for thirteen shops adjoining, is provided with water for drinking
purposes by the Metropolitan Water Board. The purity of this
water supply is controlled by repeated bacteriological examinations.
No complaints were received during the year as to the quality of
the domestic water supply in any part of the Borough.
During 1937 the Metropolitan Water Board notified the Public
Health Department that the water supply had been withdrawn
from 43 premises, either for non-payment of rates or on account
of Waste. Appropriate action was taken in these cases by the
Sanitary Inspectors under the provisions of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1936.
On the other hand the attention of the Metropolitan Water
Board was drawn to 88 cases where a waste of water Was observed
by the Sanitary Inspectors during the course of inspection of dwelling
houses and other premises in the Borough.
Drainage and Sewerage.
At the end of the year there were only two cesspools in the
Borough. These cesspools take sewage matter from conveniences
attached to sports grounds ; otherwise the water carriage system
for the disposal of sewage is general throughout the Borough. These
cesspools are systematically emptied by the Council.
The duty of supervising drainage works is carried out by the
Sanitary Inspectors. During the year 70 plans were deposited and
approved in relation to 208 new buildings and 270 in respect of
drains which were either partially or wholly reconstructed.
In one instance a caution was sent at the direction of the
Public Health Committee to a builder who failed to submit plans
of drainage work executed by him.
Nine claims were received and upheld that certain drains on
private premises which were in a defective condition were sewers
repairable by the Council and not the liability of the owners.
The Council during 1937 reconstructed 2 local sewers and
replaced 556 brick road gullies by pot gullies. In addition 39
new gullies and drains were installed.