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In 7 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 1970. 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 standpipe.
There are 18 deep wells in the borough in use.
The Metropolitan Water Board was notified on 15 occasions where wastage of
water was taking place, Notifications were received from the Board on 28 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 supplied to their boroughs which is provided by the
Metropolitan and other Water Boards.
Section 23 of the Greater London Council (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.
WORKS IN DEFAULT
Works were carried out by the Council on 53 occasions during the year in default
of persons on whom notices were served requiring the execution of works. They
comprised 45 instances of failure to comply with notices served under Section 17,
Public Health Act, 1961 regarding choked drains, one for failure to comply with a
notice served under Section 75 of the Public Health Act, 1936 with respect to
the provision of dustbins, and 7 instances of failure to comply with notices served
under Section 4 of the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949 for clearance of refuse
from sites and erection of corrugated steel fencing.
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