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programme of reconstruction of defective sewers is proceeding.
SWIMMING BATHS
The water in the seven public swimming baths in the borough and in the bath at the Council'£
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 110 samples were taken during the
year.
One sample was found to be in an unsatisfactory condition, due to low free chlorine content
and high bacteriological count.
In addition 49 samples were taken from nine school swimming baths in the borough, 8 samples
being unsatisfactory,
TRADE DESCRIPTIONS ACT 1968
The above Act came into force on 30th November and repealed the Merchandise Marks Acts
1887-1953, Since the Act places a duty on Weights and Measures authorities to enforce the Act
the Council delegated its powers and duties under the Act to the Public Control Committee.
Enforcement of the Merchandise Marks Acts as they related to foodstuffs was formerly del egated
to the Health Committee and measures were taken to achieve close liaison between public health
and weights and measures inspectors to avoid overlapping of functions anent action with regard
to misdescription of foods and drugs.
VACANT SITES
Two years ago vacant sites in the Borough presented not only an amenity problem but were,
in many cases, a serious public health nuisance providing harbourage for rats, due to the
dumping of rubbish This rubbish emanates principally from three sources, discarded household
chattels, trade refuse and fly tipping.
In an effort to discourage the dumping of household discards the Cleansing Department have
a free, well advertised service whereby rubbish of this nature is removed on notification,
Despite this, the obsession to dump on vacant sites continues, and the determination to do so
requires some understanding when the corrugated iron sheeting round a cleared site is either
bent or removed in order to dump a bedstead or mattress and other unwanted articles. Fly
tipping, which was a very live problem twelve months ago is apparently decreasing.
A concentrated effort to get sites cleared of rubbish and fenced has shown a marked
improvement. There are 292 known vacant sites, 223 of which have been cleared of rubbish and
fenced This year in 26 cases where the owners were not traced or who defaulted the work was
carried out by the Council's contractor and the cost made a charge on the land.
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 Lea in varying
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