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WATER SUPPLY.
Water is supplied by the Barret District water
Company and is obtained from deep walls sunk into
the chalk. The supply has been satisfactory in
quality and quantity.
Bacteriological and chemical examinations of the
water ore carried out at regular intervals, and 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,"
All the houses in the district have a piped supply,
and the few complaints of unsatisfactory or insufficient
supply have been in respect of domestic store cisterns
in need of cleansing and of supplies shut off on account
of burst pipes.
PESTS AND VERMIN.
The Prevention of Damage by Posts Act 1949 places
an obligation on local Authorities to ensure that, as
far as practicable, their areas are kept free of rats
and mice. This obligation does not relieve individual
house-holders from their responsibility to destroy
rats and mice on their own premises, but their presence
may well bo indicative of a general infestation in
the locality and it is advantageous for the investigations
and treatments to bo carried out by a skilled operator
under single direction.
The Council provide a free service for the treatment
of private dwelling-houses, where the infestation does
not arise through any act or neglect by the occupier,
but for all other treatments a charge is made.
Effective control calls for the treatment of
reported sources of infestation and for regular and
systematic examination of premises and land for
infestations previously unknown or unreported, and also
for the treatment of sewers, a common source of infestation.
During the year 396 premises were examined, and
infestations were found and treated in 216 instances.
The Sewage Works, Depots, Parks and various open spaces
were regularly visited, and treatments were carried
out where nd when found to be necessary.
Two treatments of the sewers were carried out,
the number of manholes shewing the presence of rats
being 30 and 17 respectively. When these sewer
treatments were commenced in 1947, 53 manholes ware
found to bo infested.
As a result of these various treatments it is
estimated that some 1715 rots ware destroyed.
A further 42 premises were treated against mice,
A total of 1481 visits ware made by the rodent
operator,
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