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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 there was one complaint alleging that the tap water had
a peculiar smell. Upon investigation the water was found to be wholesome, although the storage
tanks required cleansing. Notice was served upon the owners but the necessary work was done only
after the institution of legal proceedings. In accordance with the provisions of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1936, the Board notified three instances where water had been cut off in occupied
premises, in two cases for non-payment of rates and in the other for waste of water. In all the supply
was reinstated, in one instance after service of a notice.
Further examinations of the private well waters from the twelve borings still in use (eight in full
operation and four 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 1954 were generally satisfactory and no pathogenic
contamination was found. 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.
Twenty-eight certificates relating to the provision of a proper and sufficient supply of water in dwelling-houses
were granted under section 96 (2) of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, in respect of
newly-erected and rebuilt premises, including three municipal blocks of flats.
Drainage.—During the year, 318 drainage plans were approved. Forty-six related to new buildings,
including three Borough Council housing schemes of three blocks comprising forty-seven flats. At
the request of the Medical Officer of Health the drains and/or sewer connections of twenty-one premises
were examined by the staff of the Borough Engineer's Department. Defects which called for remedy
were discovered at eight premises and at the remaining thirteen the sewer connections were found
to be serviceable and fit for continued use. The drainage inspectors made a total of 4,047 visits.
Combined Drainage.—Twelve orders under seal for combined drainage were issued.
Ventilation of Sewers.—In the last Annual Report reference was made to the interim report of a working
party of representatives of the London County Council and the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing
Joint Committee on the causes of complaints of cffensive emanations from sewers and on possible ways
of improving conditions. It was considered that adequate ventilation, preferably by a greater number
of small ventilators rather than by a few large ones, was needed to disperse the concentrations of gases
which are mainly responsible for emanations. It was suggested that this ventilation should be provided
by way of the soil pipes of the drainage systems of suitable premises and proposed that, as an experiment,
the intercepting chambers of the drains of the County Council and Borough Council properties
should be slightly altered for this purpose. The St. Marylebone Borough Council felt that experiments
on the lines proposed would be too indiscriminate and inadequate to provide effective remedy and might
possibly cause nuisance on the municipal properties involved. In their opinion it would be better to
ventilate selected lines of sewers, in which there are known to be high concentrations of gases, by
obtaining the co-operation of the owners of suitably disposed premises draining into those sewers and,
where desirable, of neighbouring authorities, in giving effect to the working party's suggestions. These