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16
SECTION I.
SOCIAL CONDITIONS, HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION
AND VITAL STATISTICS.
The population of Croydon has for years shown a rapid and
continuous increase. The rate of increase now seems definitely to
be slackening.
The population has been growing rapidly. The increase of
population revealed in the 1931 census was 21.8% on that for 1921.
This was the highest rate of increase for any town having a population
of over 100,000 at the 1921 Census. The 1931 Census gave a
total enumerated population of 233,115. The estimated population
as at the middle of 1936 was 241,739. For the middle of 1937 the
population is given as 242,300 (R.-G.).
Water.
The water supply is drawn from deep wells in the chalk.
These wells are situated at Surrey Street, Stroud Green, Waddon,
Selhurst, and Addington. A portion of the northern side of the
Borough obtains water supplies from the Metropolitan Water
Board
I am indebted to the Borough Engineer for the following
information upon water supply, drainage and scavenging.
A constant supply of water was maintained throughout the
year from the Corporation's own wells and the supply from the
Metropolitan Water Board.
Corporation's Wells 2,098.786,629
Metropolitan Water Board in Bulk 699,188,000
2,797,974,629 gallons.
Rivers and Streams.
There are only small streams or ditches. These have been
kept in a good state.
Drainage and Sewage.
Extensions of the system have been made to keep pace with
the growth of the Borough and the outside areas draining into the
Borough. About £39,000 has been expended in maintenance and