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15. Local Government Act, 1929.—The Act has imposed changes in
the public health administration of the City only in one respect. The
general public health provisions of the Act are administered by the
London County Council. Duties under the Vaccination Acts and Orders
formerly under the administration of the Westminster Guardians, as from
1st April, 1930, are carried out by the City Council under the Medical
Officer of Health. Under the Guardians' administration there were five
part-time public vaccinators, general medical practitioners in various
districts of the City, and one whole-time vaccination officer. They were
regarded as transferred officers under the Act and were appointed in the
Public Health Department under conditions similar to those of their
appointments under the Guardians. Further reference to vaccination
is made under the section relating to Infectious Diseases.
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA.
Water.—The Medical Officer of Health is asked not to report on
water supplies because it is assumed that all London is uniformly supplied
by the Metropolitan AVater Board. In previous reports it has been
pointed out that some very large and important premises in Westminster
are independent of the Board's supply because they rely on their own
borings into the chalk under the London clay. In last year's report
some 16 buildings, recently erected or in course of construction, were
reported as having water from one to three wells each. During the
year three additional premises obtained water from artesian wells, and as
a result of further inquiry it is found that a total of 81 buildings are
supplied with water from private wells; 32 of these buildings are also
connected with the Metropolitan Water Board's mains for fire protection
and other purposes, in addition to the supplies from wells. As each
new boring is undertaken, a greater depth has to be reached before a
sufficient supply becomes available. This is largely due to the exhaustion
of the more superficial collections of water. The water from these deep
wells is pure, but slightly hard.
Public Swimming Baths, Washhouses, &c.—The City is well supplied
with these institutions, which are truly measures which serve the public
health. Besides those at Buckingham Palace Road and Great Smith
Street, the newly-constructed baths at Marshall Street were almost
completed before the end of the year, the opening being arranged for
17th April, 1931. The system for purifying the water is the Kennicott.
embodying the most modern apparatus for filtering, chlorinating, warming
and aerating the water. The design, construction and equipment of these