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33
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
An Environment which is uninfluenced by conditions inimical to health is very much
taken for granted. It is therefore right to take note of the work of the Division undertaken
to maintain healthy conditions in which people live, work and play.
Of the basic public health services the provision of water supply, the means of
sewerage and the collection and disposal of refuse are satisfactory. The inspection of
premises in which food is manufactured, stored and sold or prepared for meals, coupled
with an effective sampling programme does much to ensure that food is clean, unadulterated
and wholesome. The extension of smoke control areas within the Borough is
gradually eliminating coal smoke from the atmosphere and this is beneficial to the whole
community. In 1966 the Council set 1976 as the date by which the Borough should be a
complete smoke control area. In my opinion it would be a good investment in terms of
good health and amenity if this date can be brought forward. Work in connection with
houses is directed towards ensuring that homes are, adequate and so equipped as to be
not only sound structurally but acceptable by today's amenity standards. The approach to
this objective is by three avenues, namely the repair and rehabilitation of defective
premises, the improvement of old but sound houses by the provision where required of a
fixed bath or shower in a bathroom, a wash hand basin and hot and cold water supply,
an inside W.C., a satisfactory food store, and thirdly the closure or demolition of houses
which are totally unfit.
The above-mentioned topics and details of other activities of the Public Health
Inspectors and their supporting staff of Technical Assistants deserve further comment,
and as required by the Public Health Officers' Regulations 1969 and to meet the
requests of Government Departments, the following account is set down:—
WATER SUPPLY
The supply of water to the Borough is distributed by three companies, namely the
Colne Valley Water Company, the Lee Valley Water Company, and the Metropolitan
Water Board. It is satisfactory in quantity and quality.
Raw water and water going into supply are regularly sampled by the companies for
bacteriological and chemical examination, and the results were reported to conform to
satisfactory standards of purity. The waters are not liable to plumbo solvent action.
The amount of naturally occuring fluoride varies; that supplied by the Colne Valley
Water Company has a content of less than 0.1 p.p.m., that supplied by the Metropolitan