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21
SECTION C
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES
Water
Apart from 3 business premises which obtain certain supplies from
deep wells, the whole of the borough is supplied with water by the
Metropolitan Water Board. Regular examinations of water are therefore
considered to be unnecessary.
In many houses and block dwellings supplies of drinking water are
obtained from storage tanks and inspections of these are made often
following complaint, to ascertain their condition and, if necessary
enforce cleansing and adequate covering of the tanks in accordance
with the Council's Bye Laws. If thought necessary, samples of water
are taken. In 1956, 8 such samples were submitted for bacteriological
examination and were found to be satisfactory.
Action was required to be taken by the department in 113 instances
following the withdrawal of the water supply by the Metropolitan Water
Board or as the result of defects caused to the supply pipes by frost.
In one case a block of 60 flats was without water following frost
damage but as the result of serving notices under the Public Health
(London) Act the supply was eventually restored.
Swimming Baths
Two establishments are maintained by the Council, one in Merlin
Street and the other in Ironmonger Row. Both are of modern construction
and in addition to an indoor swimming pool, slipper baths and
facilities for washing clothes are provided. The Ironmonger Row
establishment also possesses a Turkish Bath and a special Children's
Pool.
An indoor Swimming Pool is also open to the public at the Northampton
Polytechnic during the summer months.
The water at all these Swimming Baths is chlorinated and continues
to be subject to chemical and bacteriological examination.
Sanitary Conditions
A large proportion of the time of the Public Health Inspectors is
still spent in investigating environmental conditions in the homes of
the inhabitants of the borough.