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Swimming Baths.
There are five swimming pools in the borough, two at the Public Baths
in Silchester Road, two at the Public Baths in Chelsea Manor Street, and
one private pool, used by school children, situated in the Kensington Close
Hotel.
The water used in the pools at Silchester Road and the Kensington
Close Hotel is taken from the main supply of the Metropolitan Water Board,
and the pools at Chelsea Manor Street are supplied from a deep well
situated beneath the baths. In all establishments, the water is treated by
chlorination and continuous filtration.
During the year, samples of water were taken from the pools and from
their sources of supply, for bacteriological examination, and all were
satisfactory.
Regular examinations of the bath waters were carried out by the
department, and full chemical analyses were carried out periodically by
the Public Analyst.
Fluoridation.
Fluoridation of water supplies to a level of 1.0 part per million has
been shown to be both harmless to health and most suited for the purpose
of dental protection. This concentration of fluoride occurs naturally in
many parts of the country, and artificial fluoridation in London is
intended to make generally available the protection which is enjoyed by
these other areas.
The Council have agreed to support the general policy regarding
fluoridation of water supplies, but no action has yet been taken by the
Metropolitan Water Board to introduce the fluoridation of water in the
London area.
BACTERIOLOGICAL AND ANALYTICAL WORK.
Daring the year, arrangements were continued whereby specimens of
milk, water and ice-cream for bacteriological examination were dealt with
by the laboratory at County Hall, and all other specimens were sent to
the laboratory at St. Stephen's Hospital.
The following table shows the total number of specimens examined by
the two laboratories:-
Nature of sample
Number examined
Nose and throat swabs
65
Faeces and rectal swabs
917
Urine
123
Milk (bacteriological)
80
Water (drinking)
30
Water (swimming)
60
Ice cream
33
Miscellaneous
14