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Treatments were carried out by the department's rodent control staff in 2,875 properties,
the charges for servicing business premises amounting to £6,110. Business premises under
regular servicing contract with the Council numbered 246 at the end of the year.
Continuous baiting of the sewers, using fluoracetamide, is carried out throughout
the year by gangs of men consisting of one rodent operative and two sewermen from the
Borough Engineer's Department acting under the supervision of the Health Department's
officers.
Statistics are given on page 128.
SWIMMING BATHS
The water in the seven public swimming baths in the borough and in the bath at the
Council's Hornchurch children's home is sampled at monthly intervals by the Scientific
Department of the Greater London Council on this Council's behalf. A total of 90 samples
were taken during the year.
Four samples were found to be in an unsatisfactory bacteriological condition, due
to breakdown in the chlorination plants.
In addition 30 samples were taken from seven school swimming baths in the borough,
5 samples being unsatisfactory.
VACANT SITES
Derelict buildings and vacant sites continued to be a problem this year as in previous
years. The depositing of refuse and the misuse by vagrants and children will still
continue until the sites are either adequately fenced or redeveloped.
At the end of the year, following a report considered by various committees of the
Council concerned, it was decided that in view of the provisions existing in various
acts of Parliament enabling the Council t.o take action regarding derelict sites the problem
could best be dealt with by one committee and one chief officer. The Health Committee
and Medical Officer of Health were designated for the purpose. It is hoped to commence
concerted action to deal with nuisances and other unsatisfactory conditions on derelict
sites in the borough early next year.
WATER SUPPLY
The domestic water supply in the borough is taken from the Metropolitan Water Board.
The supply to the area is a mixture of filtered water derived from the River Thames and
River Lee in varying proportions and is not plumbo-solvent. Samples of the water are
subjected for quality control to regular routine chemical and bacteriological examination
69.