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WATER SUPPLY.
No alteration was made in the source of the water supply.
The East Surrey Water Company's supply and that of the
Sutton Water Company were each examined bacteriologically four
times and twice chemically. In all cases the reports were
satisfactory.
Both Companies continued their practice of maintaining
a fairly high percentage of free chlorine and very careful
measures were taken to prevent infection resulting from injury
to mains, the Public Health Department co-operating in the
observation of results.
There was no shortage of water during the year.
The statutory maximum limit for hardness in the water
supplied by both Water Companies is 9 degrees, and 48 samples
were examined by the Department during 1941 for total hardness.
In no case was the maximum found to have been exceeded.
RAINFALL .
During the year the rainfall was 30.41 inches being
slightly greater than that of the previous year.
CLOSET ACCOMMODATION.
Nearly the whole district is on the water carriage
system, all premise's being provided with water closets except
for isolated buildings, dwelling houses in outlying districts
and temporary buildings, the number of which latter has increased
with Civil Defence and other activities.
The total number of cesspools throughout the District
was approximately 165.
The contents of all pail closets are collected by the
Council's Tank and disposed of in the Public Sewers, as are the
contents of Cesspools when emptied by this means.
PUBLIC CLEANSING.
The collection of house and trade refuse was continued
but instead of a weekly collection it was found necessary during
the year to reduce to a fortnightly collection. Salvage work
also increased and two special drives for waste paper and books
resulted in an additional 200 tons of this material being
collected, the total income from salvage for the year being just
over £4,000.
Scavenging has been carried out on a modified basis in
order to effect a saving in man power, and litter baskets have
been placed at points adjoining the bins provided for waste food.
There was no alteration in the charge for the removal of
trade refuse or for cesspool emptying by the Council tank.
SMOKE ABATEMENT.
As in previous years this matter gave rise to little
trouble. A few small chimneys occasionally cause inconvenience
through carelessness or inattention to methods of firing but no
serious difficulty has been experienced in preventing the
recurrence of such nuisances as have given rise to complaints.
RIVERS AND STREAMS. DRAINAGE SEWERAGE, SCHOOLS AND
SHOPS presented no special problems during the year.
SWIMMING POOLS.
Only one of the swimming pools of the district was used.
A sample of water was taken from this bath and reported upon
adversely but a later sample was found to be satisfactory.