View report page

as a further safeguard terminal chlorination is applied which ensures a first class
water in every respect Samples of water are examined bacteriologically, chemically
and for taste and other special purposes on every working day.
The supply to all areas was satisfactory in quality and quantity.
Number of dwellinghouses supplied from public water mains:-
(a) Direct to houses 44,000
(b) by means of standpipes Nil
Number of population supplied from public water mains-
fa) direct to houses 153,200
(b) by means of standpipes Nil
Natural fluoride content of water supplies:-
Colne Valley Water Company. Fluoride content - Nil
Metropolitan Water Board: Fluoride content - 0.15 parts per million.
The water supplied to Hendon is deficient in fluoride when compared with supplies
in certain other places such as Slough, South Shields and Burnham-on-Crouch, where
fluoride is present naturally in the water or in Watford where it is now being added
artificially.
The incidence of dental decay is reduced by more than half when the drinking
water contains adequate fluoride.
In the future I have no doubt that fluoride will be added to all supplies which
are deficient in order to promote better dental health.
HOUSING
I am indebted to the Housing Officer for the following observations and statistics
relevant to the housing situation.
During the year under review the progress made in providing accommodation for
inadequately housed persons has been maintained and a further 102 families were
rehoused into permanent accommodation in Council houses and flats, The number of
Council dwellings at 31st December, 1956, was 3,441 of which 2,140 have been erected
in post-war years.
A review of the housing waiting list in the early part of the year resulted in
a reduction of 1,800 applications at that time, but a steady submission of new claims
was maintained throughout the year and the total number of applications was 3,938 on
the 31st December.
The need to put to the best use the diminishing amount of land left in Hendon
for building purposes is reflected in the almost exclusive flat development undertaken
by the Council and schemes in progress and proposed are planned on this basis.
45