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examination and chemical analysis. The results of these examinations were satisfactory
in all but three of the 52 samples tested. All the unsatisfactory samples were
bacteriological samples.
The presence of even small numbers of organisms makes a sample unsatisfactory
when judged by the high standard of purification demanded in drinking water and
such was the case with the unsatisfactory samples in question. The chlorine dosage
was increased and all later samples proved to be satisfactory.
The total attendances at the public swimming pools and the slipper baths were
respectively 658,508 and 55,765.
SEWERAGE AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL
It is the general duty of the local authority to provide for the sewerage of their
district under Part II of the Public Health Act, 1936, certain sections of which deal
with the various provisions relating to sewerage, supplemented by Sections 12 to 23
of the Public Health Act, 1961.
The Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act, 1961, and regulations made thereunder,
make further provisions for maintaining or restoring the wholesomeness of
the rivers and other inland or coastal waters of England and Wales in respect, inter
alia, of sewerage and sewage disposal.
Certain other provisions in respect of drains and sewers are made in the
Middlesex County Council Acts, 1956 and 1961.
The Borough Engineer and Surveyor is responsible for sewers under the highways,
apart from trunk sewers, which are the responsibility of the Greater London
Council. During the year a number of foul and surface water sewers have been
reconstructed to cope with the ever increasing flows due to the development of
residential and industrial areas.
Some rural parts of the borough are not sewered, the houses having water
carriage systems discharging to cesspools or septic tank disposal systems. The Council
provides a cesspool emptying service at a nominal charge. However, during the year
Theobalds Park Road foul sewer was completed and to it were connected a number
of properties in the vicinity hitherto drained to cesspools. Schemes are envisaged to
drain further properties in the borough where it is economical to do so.
The Health Department undertakes the clearance of sewers on private property,
and 1,606 stoppages were cleared.
Repair of drains and private sewers is the responsibility of the users, and ten
formal notices were served for the repair of drains and thirteen for the repair of
private sewers. By the end of the year eight of the former had been complied with,
and ten private sewers had been repaired by the Council in default of the owners,
from whom the cost was recovered.
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