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34
the section guarded the rights of existing sanitary authorities. He
dismissed the summons, with forty guineas costs against the Borough
Council.
The question of the control of the water supply to railway companies'
property in the Borough has been under consideration for
some few years. From time to time the Public Analyst has reported
unfavourably upon the water supplied to certain of the properties
belonging to the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company,
who supplied the water from their own reservoir at Watford. Thus,
on 3rd January, 1925, a communication was sent to the Company
calling their attention to the matter, and giving details of the report of
Public Analyst on the analysis of water taken from their premises at the
end of 1924. Another sample of water was unfavourably reported upon
in March and again in October of 1925. On the latter occasion when
informing the Company of the unsatisfactory condition of affairs, I
notified them that the matter would be reported to the Ministry of
Health, and this was done. In November of 1925 another sample was
unfavourably reported upon by the Public Analyst, and in that month
the Chemist of the Company interviewed me on the subject.
Notwithstanding the ample opportunity that had been afforded to
the Railway Company to deal with the matter, another sample of
water was reported upon in March, 1927, as giving unsatisfactory
results. The analysis afforded evidence of pollution with vegetable
and animal matter, and the presence of organisms of the B. Coli
group in 10 c.c.; the figures and appearance of the water suggested
that there had been a considerable influx of surface or storm
water, and that this had not been purified by storage and filtration.
The Public Analyst reported definitely that, in his opinion, the water
was not in a fit state for human consumption. In view of the ample
opportunity that had been given for the Railway Company to take
the necessary steps to deal with the matter, an Intimation Notice under
the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, was thereupon served in respect
of one of the premises concerned; the Ministry of Health having
suggested that the question of action under that Act should be considered,
and this not having been complied with a Statutory Notice was
served in May.
I continued to press the Railway Company to provide a proper
water supply to their premises in Hampstead, and various communications
passed between them and myself.