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Other complaints were related to machinery in workshops and factories, garages, a laundrette,
social functions, clubs, parties and noisy neighbours, record players, loading and unloading of vans,
a diesel vehicle depot, air conditioning plant, animals, night baking and a rifle range.
The complaints made were not always well-founded but, where justified, they were followed up
and the offending noise abated or reduced to a reasonable level. In some cases where the Council
had no legal powers informal action taken by the Public Health Inspectors resulted in improved
conditions.
Water
The chief source of a constant water supply throughout the City is from the mains of the Metropolitan
Water Board whose Director of Water Examination has kindly provided the following
information:—
"The water supply to the City of Westminster by the Board has been satisfactory both in hygienic
quality and quantity during 1965. The supply to the whole area is now River Thames-derived
water, from the Thames Valley filtration works together with some New River-derived water from
the Stoke Newington filtration works. There were no new sources of supply instituted by the Board
in the area during the year but there were two extensions of trunk mains: 129 yds. of 18" main and
509 yds. of 21" main. The general scheme of supply was the same as in the previous year but
1,709 yds. of service mains were laid in the City of Westminster during 1965."
The analytical results of the chemical and bacteriological examinations of the water are set out
in Tables 14 and 15, page 59.
In the event of a complaint of contaminated public mains water the Metropolitan Water Board
is informed and investigations are made; if necessary samples are taken for examination. Complaints
are few and normally refer to unusual taste—which is often due to temporary super-chlorination
following works on the mains.
In common with many of the London Borough Councils, the City Council is in favour of
the Metropolitan Water Board being asked to adjust the fluoride content of the public water supplies
to the optimum amount necessary to prevent dental caries.
Private Water Supplies—Deep Wells
At 31st December, 1965, fifty-nine premises in the City were drawing water from some 75 deep wells.
The water from 68 boreholes is used for drinking and domestic purposes in 54 premises, from 6 boreholes
for emergency or stand-by purposes in 4 premises, and from one bore as feed-water for heating
purposes in one building. In addition there is one building within the City which is supplied with
water for drinking and domestic purposes from a deep well situated in an adjacent Borough.
Of the 68 boreholes supplying water for drinking and domestic purposes, 19 bores supply water to
18 premises occupied by Government Departments or Crown Agents, and in these circumstances
arrangements for maintenance are in the hands of the Ministry of Works and Public Buildings and
regular water examination is carried out by the Government Chemist.
During the year, from the remaining 49 boreholes in private ownership and control, 71 samples of
water were submitted for bacteriological examination and 19 for chemical analyses. All were reported
to be satisfactory.
Swimming Bath Water Examination
There are eleven municipal swimming baths in the City, two each at Marshall Street, W.l, Buckingham
Palace Road, S.W.I, Porchester Hall, W.2, Seymour Hall, W.l, and Kensal Road, W.10, and
one at Great Smith Street, S.W.I.
Monthly examinations are carried out at each swimming bath, comprising the taking of samples
from the shallow (inlet) and deep (outlet) ends of each bath for the purposes of bacteriological
examination and for ascertaining the residual chlorine content and the pH value (alkalinity reaction)
of the water.
During the year, 154 samples were submitted to the Public Health Laboratory Service for bacteriological
examination and an equal number were subjected to each of the other two tests mentioned.
In two instances the results indicated unsatisfactory bacterial conditions but both were of a relatively
minor character and likely to obtain from time to time. In one case, where an unusually heavy "bathing
load" had been experienced, the presence of coliform bacteria in minimal numbers in a water showing
a distinct, but low chlorine reaction to the orthotolidine test, was probably due to an inverse chlorine to
ammonia ratio and, ultimately, to inadequate residual chlorine. In the other case it was found that the
circulation pumps had been stopped during a swimming gala, held on the night previous to sampling,