View report page

40
POLLUTION OF RIVERS AND STREAMS
Inspection of the water courses with in the Borough is carried out to
ascertain if any obstructions or pollution exists and, when necessary,
samples of the waters are taken for analysis.
The Scientific Adviser to the Greater London Council refers, in his
Annual Report for 1971, to the very great improvement in the quality of the
River Wandle water which is due mainly to the higher quality of the sewage
effluent now discharged into the River.
PEST CONTROL
The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act requires that the occupier of
any premises notifies the Local Authority if such premises are infested by
rats or mice and it is gratifying to note that there has been some reduction
in the number of rodent infestations reported since the previous year. The
control of infestations in domestic premises is carried out, free of charge,
by three full-time Rodent Operators who, during the year, dealt with 2,737
notifications involving 2,050 infestations and they made 13,177 visits to
premises to carry out treatment. The occupiers of infested business premises
are required to employ private contractors to carry out this work. Mice infestations
have become a matter of concern in many areas throughout the
country owing to the degree of resistance which this rodent has developed
against the poison "Warfarin" and during the year the Ministry of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food instituted a survey to establish the extent of this
problem and the introduction of remedial measures.
Regular inspections are made of premises where food is prepared or
sold and particular attention is given to methods of prevention of rodent
infestation. Corporation owned premises, including depots, school kitchens
and serveries, etc, are periodically inspected for the presence of rodents
and appropriate action is taken if the premises are infested.
Periodical testing and treatment of the sewer system is undertaken
especially where a persistent surface infestation might be associated with
the presence of rats in local sewers. No serious infestation of the sewer
system has been detected.
Measures to control the increasing number of foxes in the Borough have
continued and 189 complaints were received with the result that some 310
foxes were destroyed by shooting or gassing. Activities have also continued
to reduce the number of feral pigeons which became a nuisance in some districts
and, following more than 70 complaints, 903 visits were made by the
Pest Control Staff and 4,750 birds were destroyed by shooting or trapping.