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46
business of selling animals as pets and as including the keeping of
animals in such premises with a view to their being sold in the
course of such business, whether by the keeper thereof or by any
other person. The term "animals" includes any form of vertebrate.
"Premises" includes any stall or barrow in a market but not any
stall elsewhere or any part of a street or public place.
Licences, issued on a payment of 10/-, will be operative to the
31st December of each year.
Drainage and Sewerage.—During the year, 583 drains were
tested, 477 were opened, cleansed or repaired and there were 1,201
constructions and re-constructions, alterations and improvements
effected.
Under the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1951,
some amendment to the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, has been
made regarding appeals and the recovery of expenses in connection
with drainage work.
Only two cesspools remain in use in the Borough and under
the Borough Engineer's direction these are emptied on request.
Eighty-seven plans of drainage and other sanitary works
relating to existing and new buildings were examined and approved.
Water Supply.—The whole of the Borough is supplied with
water by the Metropolitan Water Board which is a Statutory undertaking,
and the responsibility for its purity rests with that Authority.
There are 22,059 dwellings with direct connection to the Board's
mains.
One complaint was received during the year concerning the
unpleasant and brackish taste of drinking water at the British
Railways' Works located in Siebert Road, Blackheath. Samples
were taken and submitted for chemical and bacteriological examination
and in each instance the water was classed as 'satisfactory
for drinking purposes.'
During the year 468 water supply certificates were granted
under Section 95 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936. Water
fittings have been amended in 141 cases and extra water supply to
a tenement house was provided.
Underground Water Supplies (Wells).—In August 1947,
at the request of the Ministry of Health, a survey of underground
water supplies was made and full particulars were given in my
Report for that year.
In all, 40 wells are listed, only 2 of which are used for the supply
of water for drinking purposes. Of the remaining 38 wells, 13 arc
used for commercial purposes and 25 disused.
As far as this Borough is concerned the two wells providing