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SECTION C.—SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES.
Sanitary Inspection.—The number of complaints received (excluding those relating to rat and mouse
infestations) was 1,380. Details of the various nuisances detected and remedied, to the total number
of 2,512, are set out in Table 3. In 772 cases a preliminary (intimation) notice was issued, and in 233
instances this was followed by the service of a statutory notice to secure abatement of nuisances. In
addition, 102 notices were served under London County Council Bye-laws made under the Housing,
Metropolis Management or Public Health Acts, and one notice under the Borough Council Bye-law
for securing the cleanliness of water storage tanks.
Legal proceedings were instituted in seven cases under the Public Health (London) Act, 1936,
in respect of failure to comply with statutory notices. In five instances penalties amounting to a total
of £5 0s. 0d., were imposed, costs being awarded to the Council. Costs without the imposition of a
fine were allowed in one other instance. In the remaining case the summons was withdrawn, the works
having in the meantime been completed. Legal proceedings under County Council Bye-laws were taken
in four instances. One resulted in a fine of £5 0s. 0d., with five guineas costs, and another in a fine
of £1 0s. Od. with a guinea costs. The two remaining cases were withdrawn upon completion of the
necessary work.

Sanitary Accommodation at Public Houses.—The special survey of sanitary accommodation at licensed
premises carried out in 1949 revealed the standard to be unsatisfactory in 51 of the 133 premises.
Since then there has been a steady improvement, despite building licence difficulties, and at the end
of the year 17 premises remained to be dealt with, mainly from the point of view of absence of sanitary
accommodation for women.
Water.—Although water for domestic purposes is obtained from private wells at a small number of
blocks of flats and offices, the chief source of a constant supply throughout the Borough is from the
mains of the Metropolitan Water Board. In no case was it necessary to draw the attention of the Board
to the quality or quantity of the water, but four complaints of unpleasant taste at three premises
were received during the year. The trouble in each instance appeared to be due to a dirt}' storage
tank, and no further complaints were made after the tanks had been cleansed. In accordance with the
provisions of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, the Board notified two instances where water
had been cut off in occupied premises for non-payment of rates, and another where waste of water
had been reported. In all the supply was reinstated, in one instance after service of notice.
Further examinations of the private well waters from the ten borings still in use (four in full
operation and six for emergency purposes only) were made by the Council's Bacteriologist, and these
indicated that since the last survey, made in 1947 at the request of the Ministry of Health, there
has been no appreciable change. The reports for 1952 were generally satisfactory and no pathogenic
contamination was found. There were, however, indications that, as a sole source cf supply of drinking
water to any particular premises, an artesian well cannot always be relied upon, as such water is liable
to earthy contamination and there is always the possibility of trouble arising from the breakdown of
pumping and other equipment. Because of this it is the practice of the Department to keep the wells
supplying water for drinking purposes under observation and sample their waters every six months.
Ten certificates relating to the provision of a proper and sufficient supply of water in dwelling-houses
were granted under section 95 (2) of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, in respect of newly-erected
and rebuilt premises, including five municipal blocks of flats.