View report page

24
Continued attention is given to advances in methods of treatment and with particular regard to
formulations of poison baits as recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
Statistics in regard to Rodent Control are given in Table 17, page 86.
Insect Pest Control—Disinfestation
The work of insect disinfestation is carried out from two centres, namely Lissonia, 217 Lisson
Grove, N.W.8 and Wedlake Street Medicinal Baths, Kensal Road, W.10 by a staff of five disinfectors
who also undertake disinfection.
Continued attention is given to methods of insecticidal treatment and the formulations of spray
and powder in use are specified with particular regard to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and
Food recommendations.
As in the case of rodent control, a free service is provided in domestic premises but in business
premises where insect control is a matter of routine maintenance it is advised that a commercial
pest control organisation be employed.
During the year 3,917 (2,760) rooms were disinfested.
Disinfection
During the year, 45 (99) rooms, 6,653 (6,073) articles of bedding and clothing and 209 (482)
books were disinfected.
The Department continued to be asked by residents to certify that clothing intended for despatch
to foreign countries, mainly in central eastern Europe, was free from infection. In such cases
disinfection is carried out only when the articles concerned have actually been in contact with
infectious disease. Fifty-eight (83) certificates were issued indicating that no infectious disease
had been reported for at least one month at the premises from which the clothing was purported to
have come.
Pigeon Control
Section 74 of the Public Health Act 1961, empowers the City Council to take any steps necessary
for the purpose of mitigating any nuisance, annoyance or damage caused by the congregation of
pigeons in a built-up area.
Where pigeons congregate at the 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 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 (i) quality, and (ii) quantity throughout 1968.
(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 of the Board's laboratories at Rosebery Avenue, E.C.1, 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 Westminster but the population supplied direct according to the Registrar General's
estimates at 30th June, 1968, was 240,272.