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Ownership of the sites dealt with was as follows:-
Sites requiring Sites dealt
action with
Greater London Council 200 156
Borough Council 31 20
Private Ownership 48 35
In 8 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 supplied by the Metropolitan Water Board. The
supply to the area is derived from the Rivers Thames and Lea, and is not plumbo-solvent. Daily
samples of the water are subjected for quality control to regular routine chemical and bacteriological
examination at the Board's laboratories.
The water supply to the borough has been satisfactory both in quality and quantity during
1969. No artificial fluoride was added and where fluoride is indicated in the analyses it
represents the naturally occurring fluoride in the water.
Immediate action is taken in respect of any form of contamination revealed by inspection or
analysis. All new and repaired mains are disinfected with chlorine and the water subsequently
checked as to quality, before the structures are restored to service. No houses are permanently
supplied by stand pipe.
There are 18 deep wells in the borough in use.
The Metropolitan Water Board was notified on 29 occasions where wastage of water was taking
place. Notifications were received from the Board on 24 occasions of intention to withdraw the
supply from premises because of non-payment of rates.
In October 1965 the Council resolved in favour of fluoridation of the water supply. However,
in this respect councils in the Greater London area do not have overall control of the water
supplies to their boroughs which are provided by the Metropolitan and other water boards.
Section 23 of the Greater London Counci1 (General Powers) Act 1967 empowers the Council to
carry out work and recover the reasonable expenses incurred thereby to secure that the supply
of water to a building is restored by the statutory water undertakers where such supply has been
disconnected by reason of the defective state of the supply pipe etc. The Medical Officer of Health
is authorised by the Council to exercise its powers under this enactment in appropriate cases.
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