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pile-drivers, mechanical excavators and other heavy equipment, continued to be undertaken in the
Borough, and most of the complaints were of noise coming from these, particularly late at night and
during week-ends. The remaining complaints concerned a wide variety of supposed causes, including
radio and speech amplifiers, loading and handling of milk bottle crates, noise from factories and
workshops, an electrical transformer and generator, a refrigerator, tenants' parties, clubs, socials,
operatic rehearsals and road works. The complaints were not always justified but where, upon
investigation, nuisances were found to exist these were nearly all abated or reduced after informal
action by the public health inspectors or the streets nuisance inspector. In some cases the Department
was unable to take direct action and the facts giving rise to the complaints were referred to other
authorities possessing the necessary powers to deal with them. Checks were kept on mobile ice-cream
vendors for possible nuisance from mechanical chimes or other "musical attractions."
Pigeons.
For the purpose of abating or mitigating nuisance, annoyance or damage caused by pigeons, Section
121 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, empowers the Council to arrange for the seizure or
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 1959 eleven complaints of this type of
nuisance were investigated but it was only found necessary to refer five 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 of St. Marylebone is derived from the River
Thames. The water is purified in the Board's reservoirs at Littleton, Staines and Walton and
filtered and chlorinated at the Board's Works at Barn Elms, Ashford Common, Kempton Park and
Hampton.
The water has been of satisfactory hygienic quality throughout 1959. Samples are collected
at every stage of purification at least five days a week."
The average results of analyses of the water leaving the works concerned are set out in Tables 12
and 13, pages 34 and 35.
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 1959 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.
Fifteen certificates relating to the provision of a proper and sufficient supply of water in dwelling
houses were issued under the provisions of Section 95 (2) of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936.
Drainage—Alterations and New Buildings.
Of the 273 drainage plans approved during the year, 59 were in respect of new buildings.
Upon request, the Borough Engineer examined 29 sewer connections and 12 of them were found
to be defective and had to be renewed.
The two drainage inspectors made 3,335 visits and no circumstances were found which necessitated
legal proceedings.
Combined Drainage.
Eight orders under seal were issued in respect of combined drainage operations.
Town Planning.
Observations were made on 115 plans submitted to the Council under the Town and Country
Planning Act, 1947, and referred to the Department