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There were 3,646 tests made in connection with drainage installations
and 93 connections made to the Council's sewers during the
year.
The clearance and maintenance of public sewers is the responsibility
of the Council and maintenance costs are reclaimed from
owners of properties connected to the public sewer. A close
working liaison with the Borough Engineer and Surveyor's Department
implements the rapid clearance and repair of public sewers.
Sewerage and Sewage Disposal
The sewerage system, in common with other London boroughs,
discharges into the Greater London Council's main sewers and
disposal is carried out by that Council. The Corporation's brick
and pipe sewers are regularly cleansed and are adequate for their
purpose.
Water Supply
The bulk of the water supply in Wandsworth, in common with
other Inner London Boroughs, is obtained from the mains of the
Metropolitan Water Board, who are responsible for its purity.
The supply, derived from the River Thames' source via the Board's
works and pumping stations at Hampton, Walton and Surbiton,
has been satisfactory both in quality and quantity throughout the
year.
All dwelling houses, numbering approximately 95,000, and the
population of 330,470, are supplied from the mains of the Metropolitan
Water Board with the exception of a small part of the
Council's Latchmere Estate which obtains its supply from deep
wells situated at the Latchmere Baths adjoining the Estate. Work
was commenced some time ago to provide the whole of the Estate
with water piped directly from the mains of the Metropolitan
Water Board and while the work of conversion has been in progress,
the Housing Department has taken the opportunity of
carrying out major improvements to the properties. This has
meant rehousing the families concerned and in a few cases more
than the usual difficulties have been experienced in finding suitable
alternative accommodation for the displaced families; inevitably
this has caused delay in the completion of the Metropolitan Water
Board's works. Bacteriological examination of the well water
before chlorination and prior to its supply to the Estate is carried
out at fortnightly intervals and chemical analysis has shown no
significant change in the character of the water.
The Metropolitan Water Board carries out bacteriological and
chemical tests of raw water and water after treatment. Any sign
of a contamination or any other abnormality is immediately ininvestigated
by the Board and, in this connection, a close liaison is
maintained with the Board by the public health inspectors.
The fluoride content of water supplied by the Metropolitan Water