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57
Water from one of these wells is used by the Metropolitan Water
Board to supplement the public water supply and is subjected to
daily tests by that Authority for purity and palatability. Water
from the other well is regularly tested by the commercial firm
concerned.
Scavenging and Refuse Disposal.—The collection of refuse
in the Borough is under the control of the Borough Engineer who
has kindly supplied me with the following information:—
"During 1952 the amount of house and trade refuse and street
sweepings collected amounted to 19,422 tons, and 1,514 tons
respectively, the greater portion of which was tipped into barges
alongside the Jetty at the Council's Tunnel Avenue Depot, and taken
down to the river to controlled refuse tips in the Thames Estuary.
These tonnages are slightly under those for last year, but varying
circumstances account for this. In addition quantities of unsound
foodstuffs condemned by the Council's Food Inspectors were
collected and disposed of.
The collection of paper and other salvageable material was
continued throughout the year, a considerable income being derived
therefrom, and the Council decided to continue this scheme without
modification.
The collection of waste food continued, and a letter was received
from the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries conveying the Government's
appreciation of the efforts made in this matter by Local
Authorities and asking for continued co-operation and effort.
Continuing their policy to modernise the refuse collection
system, orders were placed for three new refuse collection vehicles.
Meetings were held with representatives of the adjoining
Boroughs to discuss the grouping scheme for refuse disposal;
further adaptations of the dust shoots on various Housing Estates
were carried out in order that the "totally enclosed" system of
collection may be operated: and works of repair and improvement
were carried out at the Council's Jetty.
The question of the survey of sites for refuse tips affecting
London as a whole was again given consideration and the Council
agreed, with other Boroughs, to contribute a sum of money towards
this, and also agreed that active steps should be taken to secure
that suitable land should be scheduled and protected under Town
Planning powers."