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WATER SUPPLY
The water supply in Kensington is almost entirely provided by
the Metropolitan Water Board, but there are two premises which obtain
water from artesian and deep wells. Samples of water were taken both
by the Council and the owners for bacteriological and chemical examination.
Results showed that the waters were suitable for drinking and
other domestic purposes.
Fluoridation of Water Supplies
During the year the attention of the Metropolitan Boroughs'
Standing Joint Committee was drawn to the published results of a fiveyear
study of the effect of artificial fluoridation of water supplies
on the incidence of dental caries among children, conducted on behalf of
the Ministry of Health, which confirmed the findings of similar surveys
in other countries.
The Minister of Health announced in the House of Commons that
he would approve local authority schemes to add fluoride to the water
supplies. The Council decided on 12th February, 1963, that they were in
favour of the Metropolitan Water Board being asked to introduce
fluoridation of water at sui early date. All other constituent Councils
of the Standing Joint Committee indicated their support, and the Metropolitan
Water Board were informed accordingly. So far no action has been
taken by the Water Board to introduce the fluoridation of water in London.
BACTERIOLOGICAL AND ANALYTICAL WORK

COMBINED DISINFECTING STATION AND MEDICINAL BATHS
The Council approved a scheme to combine the disinfecting
station and the medicinal baths on the site of the latter, which adjoins
the public baths in Lancaster Road. A single-storey building with
vehicular access from Blechynden Mews, and pedestrian access both for the
staff and the public on the Silchester Road frontage, has been provided
at a cost of approximately £37,000. The new building came into use on
6th May, 1963.
A contract existed between this Council and the London County
Council under which personal cleansing facilities for school children
were afforded at the medicinal baths, for which the County Council paid
£$00 per annum. This contract terminated with the demolition of the
old medicinal baths. Discussions took place with the County Council,
and it was provisionally agreed that the contract be renewed for one
year to enable school children to be cleansed at the new medicinal baths.
The County Council agreed to pay the Council £500 per annum and the
renewed contract operated with effect from 6th May, 1963.
Medicinal Baths (Personal Cleansing Station)
The following table shows the work carried out during 1963 at
both the Kensington and the Hammersmith Medicinal Baths:-