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28
Water.
1. Water for drinking and commercial purposes in this area is supplied by the Metropolitan
Water Board and has been satisfactory both in quantity and quality.
2. There is a piped supply, and bacteriological examinations of the raw water are
made by the Metropolitan Water Board, who also perform chemical analysis.
3. The water is not known to have any plumbo-solvent action.
4. No action has been necessary in respect of contamination.
5. All dwelling houses have a piped supply, and standpipes are normally used only in
cases of emergency, such as repair of mains.
No complaints, regarding unsatisfactory water being supplied for drinking purposes,
were received during the year.
Drainage.
During the year 3,044 inspections were made by the Sanitary Inspectors in connection
with drainage work; 92 applications for approval of proposed drainage work were
submitted together with the necessary plans, and 88 Combined Drainage Orders were
made
Smoke Abatement.
During the year 27 complaints were received regarding smoke nuisances and 243
observations were made. In most cases, it was found that the nuisance was caused by unsatisfactory
stoking, and conditions were remedied following advice being given by the
District Sanitary Inspectors. In one case it was found necessary to serve a Notice under
the Public Health (London) Act, 1936
Bombed Sites.
Accumulations of refuse on bombed sites present a considerable problem to local
authorities. In very few cases are the accumulations such as to warrant the service of
notice in respect of a " nuisance and there is also the difficulty of assessing responsibility
for the accumulations. In 1949 the Council made a by-law governing fly tipping on
vacant sites in the Borough, but considerable difficulty is experienced in tracing offenders.
Sites cleared by Council, e.g., bedding removed18
Sites cleared as a result of the service of notices under
the Public Health (London) Act, 1936 3
War-Time Reservoirs for Emergency Water Supplies.
During the year it was agreed by the Home Office that the cost of cleansng emergency
water tanks should rank for 75% grant under the Civil Defence Act, 1948, the
remaining 25% of the cost to be borne by the London County Council as fire authority. I
It was also agreed that the work of cleansing might be done by the Metropolitan Borough
Councils as agents for the London County Council. As a result of this arrangment eight
emergency water tanks in Holborn were cleansed during the year.
Pharmacy and Poisons Act, 1933.
This Act, the Poisons Rules, 1952/54, and the Poisons List Order, 1952/54, regulate
the sale of poisons, and every local authority is required to keep a list of persons who
are entitled to sell poisons included in Part II of the Poisons List.
During the year 1953, 32 applications were received for retention on this Council's
list. Two applications were received for entrv on the list.