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Water Supplies.
With the exception of a few wells in the Borough, the Metropolitan Water Board
is responsible for all supplies.
The number of bore holes, for industrial purposes, in the Borough remained at
eight. Two additional bore holes are normally used in connection with the supply
of water to one of the Council's Public Baths, but one of these was out of order
during the whole of the year.
Upon a report being received from one of the householders in the Borough it was
found, upon inspection, that a disused well had been discovered in the garden at
the rear of his house. The facts in this case were as follow:—
The householder had previously arranged for an Anderson Air-Raid Shelter to
be removed and had cultivated that portion of the garden and laid a path. One
evening whilst he was showing a friend round the garden he saw what appeared to be
a movement of earth and shouted to his friend to keep clear. Within a few minutes
a large portion of the garden had caved in, exposing a disused well which had a brick
lining and a cover put over on two occasions at different levels. The well was
approximately 4 ft. 6 ins. wide by 30 ft. deep. After negotiations with the proper
authorities the well, which had been directly beneath the air raid shelter, was filled in.
In accordance with the requirements of the Public Health (London) Act 1936,
42 applications for Water Certificates were received and 42 Certificates were issued
in respect of 935 premises.
The following samples of water were taken:—
Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
Chemical Bacteriological Chemical Bacteriological Chemical Bacteriological
10 10 10 10 — —
Swimming Bath Water.—During the year the following samples were taken from
the Council's swimming pools.
Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
Chemical Bacteriological Chemical Bacteriological Chemical Bacteriological
18 18 16 18 2 —
After each of the chemically unsatisfactory samples the Swimming Bath water
was changed.
SECTION D.
HOUSING.
During the year 1948, 1,684 new applications for accommodation on London
County Council Estates were referred to this Department for investigation. Of this
number, 924 were found to be living in overcrowded conditions and overcrowding
reports were submitted to the London County Council. In 141 instances,