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74
registration issued under this Act in respect of premises in
Greenwich.
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 24,765 dwellings with direct connections to the Board's
mains.
During the year 399 water supply certificates were granted
under Section 95 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936. Water
fittings have been amended, repaired or renewed in 170 cases.
Consideration has been given by the Ministry of Housing and
Local Government to recent changes in technique, practice and
use of new materials in building such as, very high flats and offices,
use of plastics for cold water, etc. It was felt that this new
situation demanded a revision of the existing Water Byelaws and
the Ministry's Circular 57/63 of 10th October introduces new
Model Byelaws for the prevention of waste, undue consumption,
misuse or contamination of water.
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 and, on occasions, control samples from this latter well
are taken by the Council's Public Health Inspector for chemical
and bacteriological examination.
Fluoridation of Water Supplies.—In recent years dental decay
has increased especially among the younger age groups and it