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25. WATER SUPPLIES, SWIMMING BATHS AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL
WATER SUPPLIES
Four water undertakings supply the Borough with mains water. The Colne Valley
Water Company supplies small parts of Perivale and Horsenden Wards. The
Rickmansworth and Uxbridge Valley Water Company supplies the remainder of
Perivale and Horsenden Wards, part of Waxlow Manor Ward and the whole of Ravenor,
Mandeville and West End Wards. The South West Surburban Water Company supplies the
whole of Dormers Wells and Northcote Wards, the remainder of Waxlow Manor Ward
and part of Glebe Ward. The Metropolitan Water Board supplies all other areas of the
Borough not already mentioned.
These public supplies have been satisfactory in quality and quantity and are not
subject to plumbo-solvent action. Water from public mains was supplied to 89,524
dwellings with a mid-1966 estimated population of 303,940.
Private supplies are derived from welIs at 11 factories in the Borough. In these
factories water is obtained from deep borings ranging in depth from 300 to 600 feet.
Of 32 samples of water from these wells submitted for bacteriological and chemical
examination during the year, two were found to be unsatisfactory. After thorough
cleansing and sterilization of supply pipes repeat samples proved to be satisfactory.
As a result of complaints, nine samples of tap water from public supplies were
taken, three of which proved to be unsatisfactory. In these cases, storage tanks had
become contaminated. After the tanks had been thoroughly cleaned and properly
covered, satisfactory repeat samples were obtained.

FLUORIDATION OF WATER SUPPLIES
In the latter part of 1965 the Council considered the advice given in Ministry
of Health Circular 15/65 on the subject of fluoridation and passed a resolution in
which it approved the addition of fluoride to the public water supplies in the Borough.
Water undertakers serving the Borough were notified of the Council's decision,and,
in accordance with the Minister's approval under Section 28 of the National Health
Service Act, 1946, were asked to make the necessary arrangements.
In an area such as Greater London with its 33 local health authorities and
with public water supplies provided by eight separate water undertakings, agreement
on fluoridation by all parties concerned has proved difficult. The problem was
considered by the London Boroughs Committee in May 1966, when it was reported that
an approach had been made to the Minister of Health with a view to the introduction
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