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75
There is a total of 149 deep wells in the City. Fifty-one of them are
now out of use owing to the supply of water failing. Some were sunk
as far back as seventy to eighty years ago. As the years have passed,
wells have had to be bored to greater depths with the result that the
deeper wells have in some cases deprived the more shallow ones of supplies
of water.
Many of the large blocks of business premises and flats contain more
than one well, such as Bush House (6), Dolphin Square (4), Liberty
House (3), Devonshire House (3), and nineteen other properties have two
wells each. The ninety-eight wells now in use serve some 64 premises.
In view of the intense public interest in water supplies from wells which
became apparent towards the end of the year, it seemed desirable to have
an analysis of water from each deep well in the City. It was found on
inquiry that a number of owners were already in possession of periodical
reports of analysis and others were advised to obtain such reports and
to acquaint the Medical Officer of Health with the results.
Public Swimming Pools, Laundries, &c.—There are three municipal
establishments, situated at Buckingham Palace Road, Great Smith Street,
and Marshall Street.
The numbers using the swimming pools and private baths in 1937
were :—
Buckingham Palace Road: 123,327 men; 63,565 women.
Great Smith Street: 133,833 men; 52,335 women.
Marshall Street: 155,237 men; 92,344 women.
The numbers relating to users of the public laundries were:—
Buckingham Palace Road, 22,761; Great Smith Street, 17,582; Marshall
Street, 6,792.
Sterilization of Water in Public Swimming Pools and Baths.—Efficient
filtration and sterilization plants are installed at the City Council's
three establishments, sterilization being carried out by the chlorine and
chloramine (chlorine-ammonia) methods. Periodical tests made of the
water in the pools during the year indicated that a high degree of purity
was being maintained.
There are fourteen other pools in the city which are privately owned,
but with the exception of two in turkish bath establishments they are
not open to the general public. All are well maintained and under
competent supervision.