View report page

9
destruction of these birds in excess of such numbers as the Council consider reasonable. Accordingly,
a pigeon catcher is authorised to operate under the direction of the Medical Officer of Health, at places
in the Borough where nuisance is being caused. During 1958 fourteen complaints of this type of
nuisance were investigated but it was only found necessary to refer four cases to the pigeon catcher.
Water.
Although at a small number of blocks of flats and offices water for domestic purposes is obtained
from private wells, the chief source of a constant supply throughout the Borough is from the mains
of the Metropolitan Water Board whose Director of Water Examination has kindly provided the
following information:—
"The water supplied by the Board to the borough is derived from the River Thames. It is
purified in the Board's reservoirs at Littleton, Staines and Walton and filtered and chlorinated at
the Board's Works at Hampton, Barnes and Barn Elms. Samples are collected at every stage of
purification, at least five days a week, and the water has been of satisfactory hygienic quality
throughout 1958."
In no case was it necessary to draw the attention of the Board to the quality or quantity of the
water, although one complaint was made of the quality of the water at a dwelling house. On
inspection, however, it was found that the supply was wholesome but that it came via a storage
tank which required cleansing. A notice was served on the owner of the house who decided to
dispense with the tank and had the supply connected directly to the mains. Twelve other storage
tanks at various premises were found to require cleansing and in all cases the necessary work was
done following service of notices.
There were no notifications by the Board under the provisions of the Public Health (London) Act,
1936, of instances where it had been necessary to withdraw the supply of water from occupied premises.
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. 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 1958 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.
Drainage—Alterations and New Buildings.
Of the 243 drainage plans approved during the year, 32 were in respect of new buildings.
Upon request, the Borough Engineer examined 71 sewer connections and 14 of them were found
to be defective and had to be renewed.
The two drainage inspectors made 3,229 visits and no circumstances were found which necessitated
legal proceedings.
Combined Drainage.
Six orders under seal were issued in respect of combined drainage operations.
Town Planning.
Observations were made on 96 plans submitted to the Council under the Town and Country
Planning Act, 1947 and referred to the Department.
Rodent Control.
There were 343 notifications of rat infestations at premises in the Borough, a reduction of 11 on
the previous year's figure of 354. Although only slight, this reduction follows the trend of a gradual
annual decline in the incidence of rats since the year 1953 when the total was 595. Notifications of
mice totalled 287,12 more than during the previous year, but taken over a period of the last five years
there has been a slight decline, the total figure for 1953 being 337.
Block surveys were continued throughout the year as a measure of control and to guard against
possible failure of occupiers to notify the presence of rats. Thirty-four blocks were surveyed and test
baited. This involved 1,023 premises and 11 rat and 4 mouse infestations were discovered and dealt
with. All were localised and of a minor character.