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53
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 23,759 dwellings with direct connections to the Board's
mains.
During the year 311 water supply certificates were granted
under Section 95 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936. Water
fittings have been amended in 170 cases.
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 the
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 are used for commercial purposes and 25 disused.
During September of 1953 a further shallow well was sunk
on the premises of the Tunnel Glucose Refineries Ltd., at Tunnel
Avenue, thus making 3 wells in all on this property and bringing
the total of wells in the Borough to 41. This new well is to be used
for industrial purposes only.
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 1956 the amount of house and trade refuse collected
by the Council totalled 21,426 tons, an increase of 736 tons over the
previous yeai. Street sweepings collected amounted to 1,991 tons,
an increase of 16 tons over the previous year.
As mentioned in previous reports 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.