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25
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 464 new or
re-erected dwelling houses or tenements.
Forty-two notices of waste of water from defective fittings, etc.,
observed during routine inspections of various premises, were sent to
the Metropolitan Water Board.
At the public baths in Latchmere Road there are deep wells which
supply water, not only to the Baths Establishments, but also, for all
domestic purposes, 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 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 water is chlorinated as a safety measure, before passing into
supply. A sample of the chlorinated water is taken every fortnight,
and in addition, every three months a sample is taken from the rising
main of each borehole (i.e., before chlorination). These samples are
submitted, for bacteriological examination, to the Public Analyst, whose
reports show that the water consistently maintains a high degree of
Purity.
Rag and Bone Dealers.
Premises occupied by rag and bone dealers in the Borough are
subjected to regular inspection. During the year 141 inspections were
made. Various small irregularities found to exist were brought
to the notice of the occupiers of the premises and were remedied
without recourse to formal action.
Proceedings were taken against an itinerant rag and bone dealer
for giving a balloon to a child in exchange for rags, contrary to
Section 26 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1952.
The Court, however, dismissed the summons absolutely under the
Criminal Justice Act, 1948.
Fouling of Footpaths by Dogs.
No offence against the Council's By-law relating to this matter
was reported during the year.
Verminous Premises.
During the year 255 premises which were found to be infested
with vermin (principally bed-bugs) were disinfested. The usual method
of treatment is by a D.D.T./pyrethrum spray.