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176
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
The supply was withdrawn for non-payment of rates from
54 premises from 31 premises in consequence of defects, in 16 the
premises were empty, and in two the supply was withdrawn by
request.
Compared with 1910, there has been an increase of 24 in the
number of notices received, but a decrease of one in the number of
premises affected.
When a notice has been received that the water has been cut off,
either for arrears or in consequence of defects, the Sanitary Inspector
visits the premises, and if these have no water supply, serves an
intimation notice under the Public Health (London) Act. If this
notice is not complied with the matter is reported to the Public
Health Committee, so that a statutory notice may be served.
During the year several cases have had to be so reported, and the
Public Health Committee have considered the whole question of
the procedure adopted by the Water Board in cutting off the water
and so making an inhabited house unfit for human habitation,
instead of taking action under Section 33 of the Metropolitan Water
Board (Charges) Act, 1907. The matter was reported to the Council,
who communicated with the Metropolitan Water Board, suggesting
that proceedings might be taken under Section 33 of this Act.
The Metropolitan Water Board replied to the Council's letter
to the effect that each case was carefully considered before instructions
were issued to withdraw the supply, and that the Committee
were satisfied that those instructions were requisite for the protection
of the Board's revenue, and also stated that instructions of this
nature are only issued when the Committee are satisfied that
they are necessary to prevent'an abuse of the Board's desire to
reduce to a minimum the practice of withdrawing supplies for nonpayment
of the water rate, and that in the cases referred to by the
Council every endeavour had been made to secure payment before
the supply was withdrawn.