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22
Water.
The quality and quantity of the water supplied by the Metropolitan
Water Board is satisfactory. Six complaints were received from premises
where the drinking water was drawn from intervening storage tanks but
in all cases it was found the tanks had become dirty by oversight of the
persons responsible. 21,536 inhabited houses with an estimated population
of 101,940 receive water supply from public water mains direct
to the houses. All the dwelling houses in the area, apart from those
blocks of flats supplied from deep wells, derive their piped supplies from
the Metropolitan Water Board and are provided with internal water
taps.
Private Deep Wells.
At the request of the Ministry of Health a survey was made of the
sources of underground water on similar lines to that made in 1939.
In 1939 when the last survey was carried out, 150 deep wells existed in
the City area.
Of the 96 wells still actively used, 86 have been found to provide a
suitable and satisfactory supply of water for drinking purposes. The
remainder can be classified in the manner following :—
1 well is used for cooling purposes in connection with a brewery.
1 well is used for supplying boilers at an hotel.
1 well is used as a standby in case of fire at an hotel.
6 wells are used for domestic purposes but a continuous chlorinating
plant is installed.
One well where high bacterial counts are being obtained is at
present being investigated. The machinery of the well is being overhauled
and sterilised. If, after completion of this work, satisfactory
results are not obtained, a continuous chlorinating plant will be
installed.
It should be reported that in addition to the total number of wells in
existence in 1939 in the City area, one new well has been bored for use
at Government premises.
Requests were sent to the owners or agents of buildings supplied by
deep wells for bacteriological and chemical tests to be made, and the
results to be submitted to the Medical Officer of Health. In most
cases it was possible to furnish such reports without delay. In some
instances owners who had not had recent tests made were requested to
have samples of water from the wells tested and the reports submitted.
These have now been received.
During the survey it was found that in 7 cases where wells are now
definitely out of use, inadequate measures had been made to deal with
the well tops. In these cases the owners have been requested to ensure
effective sealing to prevent seepage into the shaft which might affect and
possibly contaminate similar wells in adjoining premises.
The upper level of the chalk subsoil under the City of Westminster
is between 175 feet and 230 feet below ground level and the wells within