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SECTION C
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES
WATER:
The borough is freely supplied with water from the Metropolitan
Water Board. As this supply is under continuous control no regular
examinations are made of it.
All the premises in the Borough have a piped supply of water but in
many houses and block dwellings supplies of drinking water, as well as
water to be used for other domestic purposes, are obtained from storage
tanks. Generally speaking it may be said that these tanks are in good
general condition and the majority of them are satisfactorily covered,
and do not require attention except on rare occasions. From time to
time inspections are carried out, mainly on complaint, to ascertain
their condition, and if necessary steps are taken to enforce cleansing
and adequate covering, in accordance with the Council's Bye-Laws.
The Metropolitan Water Board give regular information whenever
water supplies to any premises are withdrawn. This may be because the
premises have become vacant or because of defects causing waste of water
or of unpaid rates. Investigations are made by the department, and where
appropriate, action is taken to have the supply reinstated. It has
occurred on a diminishing number of occasions and in 1962 only three
instances occurred and in each case the supply was restored.
There are at present only 3 deep wells known not to be fully sealed
in the Borough. These are situate in the premises of
1. Royal London House, Finsbury Square.
2. City Gate House, Finsbury square.
3. Bovril Ltd., Old Street.
The first two premises mentioned are partly in Crown occupation,
and samples of the water are periodically examined either by this
department or elsewhere, on behalf of the Ministry of Works. That on
the premises of Bovril Ltd., is not in actual use. The number of water
samples examined bacteriologically in 1962 was 19. Of these 10 samples
were taken from deep wells and 9 from private dwellings supplied from
water storage tanks in respect of which complaints were received. The
well water was also submitted to the Public Analyst for chemical
analysis. In the case of both the bacteriological and chemical
examinations the results were all highly satisfactory.
SWIMMING BATHS:
(i) The Council maintains two establishments, one in Merlin Street
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