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22
.In the Annual Report for 1948, reference was made to serious
emissions of smoke, grit, etc., from two public utility undertakings
in the Borough. In one of them (an electricity generating station)
the installation during 1949 of additional grit arresting and other plant
of a similar nature reduced the emissions to a very material extent.
In the other case (a gas works) little improvement can be reported,
and does not seem likely to take place until the replacement of a
large amount of plant of an obsolete type can be effected. This, it
appears, is not likely to take place for a number of years.
Apart from these two instances, the complaints related to emissions
from various industrial plants. On investigation, they were found
to be due to some transient cause such as the use of unsuitable fuel,
or temporary breakdown of some part of the plant. In two cases
intimation notices were served, on which the nuisance was abated,
and no further action was found necessary.
The total number of observations made was 165.
Effluvium Nuisances.
A small number of complaints alleging nuisance from effluvia
emitted from various industrial and business premises were received.
In only one case (a works where the boiling of varnish is carried on)
did there appear to be any justification for the complaint. This case
was still under observation at the end of the year.
Offensive Trades.
There are two premises in the Borough at which scheduled
offensive trades are carried on. These businesses have been established
for many years and are satisfactorily conducted.
Water Supply.
During the year certificates under Section 95 (2) of the Public
Health (London) Act, 1936, were issued in respect of 93 new or
re-erected dwelling houses or tenements.
In five houses an additional water supply on an upper floor was
provided, in compliance with notices served under Section 95 (5)
of the Act.
Thirty-four notices of waste of water from defective fittings,
etc., observed during routine inspections of various premises, were
sent to the Metropolitan Water Board.
Periodical examination of the water supplies drawn from the
deep wells at the Latchmere Baths was carried out during the year.
The Public Analyst's reports on his examination of the samples
showed that the water maintained a high degree of purity. These
wells supply water not only to the Baths Establishment, but also to
over 360 tenements on the Council's Latchmere Estate. Formerly,
supplies were adequate for all these purposes, but of recent years the
yield from the wells has fallen, so that supplies from the mains of
the Metropolitan Water Board have had to be drawn upon to an
increasing extent. During 1950, the existing air-lift pumps on two
of the borings were replaced by electrically operated submersible
pumps of modern design, with the result that the yield from these
borings is now sufficient for normal requirements. The mains are
drawn upon only in emergency.