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houses supplied by shallow wells about 20 feet deep. Samples of the water
in these wells are taken at at intervals. The present sources of supply are
regarded by the Board as adequate for the next ten years, provided that the
amount of storage capacity is in some districts increased. On 11th April,
1908, a commencement was made of a new reservoir, part of which will be in
the N.E. corner of my district. When completed, in about four years' time, this
reservoir will cover over one thousand acres of land, with a water area of 416
acres, and will hold 3,000 millions of gallons of water, gathered from the River
Lea and the Lea Navigation. The policy of the present Hoard is based on the
reports from Dr. Houston, which show that one week's storage will destroy
99 per cent, of the bacilli present in the water when collected.
WATERCOURSES.
During the winter of 1907-8 the inverting and culverting in of a considerable
length of the Sadlers Mill Stream, between the Hertford Road to
Bury Street Bridge, was accomplished. North of Bury Street Bridge this
watercourse has been straightened, and runs, partly in an open cutting and
partly covered in, up to the Enfield Boundary, thus lowering considerably the
water level in all the district through which it passes. The whole of the
watercourse, sometimes called " Beaconsfield Brook," has also been culverted
in; it is really an overflow of Salmon's Brook, starting at the Town Hall
and ending in Pymmes Brook at the south end of Montague Road. This
watercourse, when open, favoured a great nuisance; passing as it did at the
back of a number of cottage gardens, it was a handy refuse bin for all the
occupiers, and at the part passing through unfenced lands the banks were being
continually broken in, and water made stagnant in malodorous pools. In
1906 cases of diphtheria were occurring at these cottages with unusual
frequence.
Negotiations are practically complete for covering in the portion of
Salmon's Brook between the Cross Keys public-house on the Green and the
Town Hall. This will be a very important improvement.
OBSTRUCTED FOOTWAYS AND ROADWAYS.
In my monthly report for May I said : "I am glad to notice that
the Highways Committee are taking this matter in hand. I feel that their
action will receive the support of my Sanitary Committee, because the exposure
of textile goods outside shops is likely to do harm, whether the
goods are new or second-hand. If new and sterile, all kinds of noxious germs
and vermin may be left on the goods by the people passing by, not to mention
the small percentage of persons who handle them with a view to purchase;