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WATER SUPPLY.
The water sup-ply of the district is obtained from
deep wells sunk into the chalk end is provided by the Barnet
District Water Company. It has been satisfactory in both quality
and quantity.
All houses in the district have a piped supply, and
there have been no complaints of unsatisfactory or insufficient
supply.
Bacteriological and chemical examinations of the
water were carried out 'at regular intervals, end the following
is characteristic of reports received:-
"This is a very satisfactory water. It is clear and
bright in appearance and of the highest standard of
bacterial purity, indicative of a pure and wholesome
water suitable for the purpose of a public supply".
RATS AMD MICE. THE PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PESTS ACT, 1949.
This Act came into operation on the 31st. March 1950,
on which date the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act 1919 was repealed.
An important effect of this Act is that District
Councils are now directly vested with powers and responsibilities
in connection with rodent control whereas formerly County Councils
were responsible for administration of this service with power
to delegate the duties to District Councils willing to accept them.
An obligation is now laid on local authorities to
ensure that, as far as practicable, their areas are kept free
from rats and mice.
Apart from the natural repugnance generally felt
towards rats and mice their control and destruction is important
for three good reasons.
1. To reduce wastage of food. Rats and mice need food
to live, and they may either eat it or render it unfit
for use by fouling it. Community life necessitates
the storage of large quantities of food, and thereby provide
conditions inviting to infestations.
2. To reduce structural damage caused by gnawings and
burrowings.
3. To prevent the spread of diseases which may be carried
by rats and mice.
Effective control calls not only for the treatment
of reported sources of infestation, but for the systematic examination
of promises and land for infestations hitherto unknown or
unreported and for the regular treatment of sowers which are a
common source of infestation.
During the year 406 private and business promises
were examined for infestations by rats, and treatments were
carried out in 280 instances. In addition, public undertakings
such as the Sewage Works, Refuse Tip, Depots and Porks were
regularly visited and treatments were carried out when and where
found to be required.
Two treatments of the district sowers were carried
out during the year when the number of manholes shewing signs of
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