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ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
RAINFALL
The rainfall for the year 1950 was 21.33 inches as compared with
19.94 inches for the previous year—rain fell on no less than 273 days in
the year 1950.
WATER SUPPLY
The building of new dwellings at Longbridge Road has necessitated
an extension of the mains of a total length of 716 yards.
Samples were taken from the domestic supplies and submitted
monthly for bacteriological examination and quarterly for chemical
examination.
All the samples submitted were found to be pure and wholesome.
Until there is some substantial reduction in the temporary hardness
of the water supplied to the Borough by the South-East Essex Water
Works, Co., Ltd., I must continue to call attention to this disability.
The increased cost of laundering and bathing in the home due to
the hardness is a deterrent to the practice of personal hygiene.
In certain factory premises there are eight wells. In two instances
these wells are used to supply water for drinking purposes. Samples
drawn from such supplies have been examined during the year and
found to be satisfactory.
DRAINAGE AND SEWERAGE
The drainage of the Borough continues to be discharged to the
Northern Outfall Works of the London County Council.
RIVERS AND STREAMS
Our principal water-courses are the Rivers Thames and Roding, with
two subsidiaries known as the Mayesbrook and Loxford Water.
The Thames and Roding continued to cause nuisance during the
summer months owing to the serious contamination of the water from
sewage effluents and the lack of upland rain-water. The London County
Council is going forward with its expansion of the outfall works at Barking
and Crossness which will in time, we hope, bring an urgent improvement.
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