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Where pigeons congregate at their feeding or roosting sites much fouling of the adjacent
buildings, or other surfaces, is caused by their droppings. At their nesting sites the fouling is more
concentrated which, apart from being unsightly, encourages insect and mouse infestation. The
control of pigeons is not helped by the indiscriminate and regular feeding of pigeons by members
of the public which is almost always the cause of the concentrations of pigeons which give rise
to complaint.
The investigation of complaints is carried out by the Public Health Inspectors and the Pest Control
staff who, depending upon the circumstances of the complaint, arrange wherever possible the
remedial measures to be taken and give advice, where necessary, on the use of repellents.
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 which, it should be noted, relates to the Board's direct supply to the area and not to
supplies from any other source:—
"(1) (a) The supply was satisfactory both as to quality and quantity throughout 1967.
(b) All new and repaired mains are disinfected with chlorine, after a predetermined period
of contact the pipes are flushed out and refilled; samples of water are then collected from
these treated mains; and the mains are returned to service only after results are found to
be satisfactory.
The quality control from these laboratories is carried out by means of daily sampling
from sources of supply, from the treatment works or well stations, from the distribution
system, and through to the consumer. Any sign of contamination or any other
abnormality is immediately investigated.
(c) (i) The Board has no record of the number of structurally separate dwellings supplied
in your area, but the population supplied direct according to the Registrar General's
estimates at 30th June, 1967, was 255,015.
(ii) No houses were permanently supplied by standpipe.
(d) No fluoride was added, and where the fluoride content is indicated in the analyses it
represents the naturally occurring fluoride in the water.
(2) (a) The supply was derived from the following works and pumping stations:—
River Thames via Ashford Common, Hampton, Hammersmith, Cricklewood, Walton
and Surbiton, New River via Stoke Newington.
No new sources of supply were instituted and there were no changes to the general
scheme of supply in your area. The number of samples collected and the bacteriological
and chemical analyses of the supply from the above sources after treatment are shown
in Tables 19 and 20, pages 73.
(b) The Board's river and well sources have not been considered to have a plumbo-solvent
action, on account of their hardness content and alkaline reaction. It should, however,
be appreciated that all types of water pick up varying amounts of metal from piping,
particularly when it is newly installed; this applies to copper, zinc, iron and also lead.
Tests for lead have been carried out in connection with chemical analyses of samples
of running water collected from premises in the distribution system and the information
obtained over the period 1st January to 31st December, 1967 is set out in Table 20,
page 73. The figures given apply to the whole of the Board's area but the general characteristics
of the water are similar throughout the area, so that the findings are applicable
to individual Boroughs. The regular system of examination for lead in water in domestic
premises will continue during 1968."
In the event of any suspicion of contaminated public mains water, the Metropolitan Water Board
is informed and investigations are made: if necessary, samples are taken for examination. Complaints
(which are extremely few) have usually referred to some alleged unusual taste.
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
The water from 68 boreholes is used for drinking and domestic purposes in 54 premises. Of this
number, 19 bores supply water to 18 premises occupied by Government Departments or Crown