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investigation into osteochondritis juvenalis of the spine, accumulation
of fluoride in the bones, mongolism, peptic ulcer, absenteeism
from school and a careful study of the vital statistics. In this
respect, the outcome was completely reassuring.
The results of the five year experiment can be considered a
complete vindication of the attitude taken up previously by the
dentists and, in consequence, the Minister of Health is being urged
to adopt fluoridation of water supplies as a normal procedure.
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.
During the year, contractors engaged in the work concerning
the duplication of the Blackwall Tunnel indicated to the Metropolitan
Water Board that they had reached a point at which they
would require to dispose of effluent pumped from pilot tunnels.
It was stated \that this effluent from grouting wqrk contained
chemical spillage diluted in ground water which could not be discharged
directly into the river.
If such effluent were to be discharged via a borehole, as had
been suggested by the contractors, there was a distinct possibility
that there would be a change in the chemical constitution of the
ground water in the area. This, in turn, would doubtless affect the
water in the local wells.