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SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES
Water Supply
Every dwelling house in the Borough is provided with a
direct water supply from the mains of the Metropolitan Water
Board, and no complaints were received during the year as to its
purity.
Bombed sites
These "scars of war" continued to give rise to complaints of
nuisances resulting from the dumping of rubbish as well as their
improper use as playgrounds by children and their general
unsightliness. They were, however, kept under close surveillance,
and when necessary arrangements were made for the removal of
any offensive refuse which might have constituted a danger to
public health. It is hoped that this will be a decreasing cause for
complaint as re-building takes place.
It is extremely difficult to enforce the Council's Byelaw
concerning the Deposit of Litter to the Detriment of Public
Amenities, as it is not practicable to maintain a 24-hour supervision
over these sites. Even where fences enclose the land
refuse is often thrown over them and they are very quickly
damaged or broken down by children.
The sites in Crown Street, which have been acquired by the
London County Council for housing development purposes, have
been particularly troublesome, since they are used almost daily
by "totters" for the sorting of their "wares" and the disposal
of unsaleable material; frequently these itinerant traders light
bonfires on the sites, the smoke from which gives rise to serious
nuisances. Representations have been made to the London
County Council on many occasions, as the result of which some
of the sites have been fenced. Nevertheless, the removal of
accumulations of offensive refuse is frequently necessary, and
it would seem that these recurrent nuisances are likely to continue
until building on the land commences.
Static Water Tanks
No complaints were received during the year of nuisances
arising from static water tanks. This was, no doubt, due to the
vigilance of the public health staff. During the warmer weather
the rain water which collected in the tanks was sprayed as a
routine measure to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes, as a