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54
As far as this Borough is concerned the two wells providing
drinking water are properly supervised and have shown no sign of
deterioration.
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 1955 the amount of house and trade refuse collected
by the Council totalled 20,790 tons, a decrease of 434 tons over the
previous year. Street sweepings collected amounted to 1,945 tons,
a decrease of 159 tons over the previous year.
The Council continues its policy of providing for the purchase
of modern vehicles for the collection of the refuse and the cleansing
of roads and gullies.
Arrangements continue to be made for the provision of separate
refuse containers in flats and other establishments. These containers
are housed in separate compartments in the vicinity of the
building from which the refuse has to be collected. The refuse is
deposited direct into the container and the collecting vehicle has a
mechanical contrivance for picking up the container complete and
depositing its contents direct into the vehicle without exposing the
refuse.
The matter of untidy streets is still a problem and in spite of the
"Keep Britain Tidy" campaign there is still too much litter thrown
on to the highway. Representations have been made—and concern
expressed—from the public health point of view at the increasing
amount of litter, including items of food, which were seen in the
streets of the Borough, as well as on certain bombed sites. Provision
has been made for additional street litter receptacles to be
fixed at certain points in the Borough, with a view to mitigating
this nuisance.
The collection of salvage continues, the amount during the year
under review representing 926 tons, which was disposed of in the
best markets.
The same procedure for the disposal of the refuse by the barging
method still operates, and negotiations for alternative means of
disposal are continuing."