View report page

14
becoming unfit for habitation and subsequently being demolished.
In other cases, however, in which the water supplies come from a
shallow well and are demonstrably unfit, all practical steps are
taken to improve the supply and so to deal with the water as an
interim measure as to make it safe.
Four samples of well water were taken during the year and
submitted to the Counties Public Health Laboratories for bacteriological
and chemical examination. The results, as were to be
expected, were variable.
Atmospheric Pollution.
The number of recording instruments remain as last year and
an aggregation of evidence is being painstakingly accumulated and
will in due course be critically analysed.
The results in general so far correspond with our expectations.
Apart from any local significance which may emerge from our
findings the importance of the contribution made by an authority
such as ours in forming part of a national chain of such investigations
is manifest. It is, however, to be regretted that an
encouragement is not given to a wide extension of such exploratory
work by the making available of considerably cheaper methods of
analysis than are at presfent open to us.
Sixty visits were paid to the various sites throughout the district
during the year in addition to which 467 analyses were made in
connection with the Volumetric SO 2 apparatus maintained at the
Public Health Offices.
Pollution of the Thames.
This matter was investigated and kept under review throughout
the year. It may be taken that all possible steps to improve the
condition of the river are being considered or planned and will be
taken to improve a position which is by general consent regarded as
unsatisfactory, not least to those districts through which the river
passes in its lower reaches. Local action can expedite but not
provide a solution.
Swimming Baths.
Due to circumstances over which there is no local control,
Hornchurch has not been enabled to enjoy the facilities of a local
swimming baths. Irrespective of the modern standard of local
housing it is still most desirable that the numerous potential users
of such a swimming baths should be catered for at the earliest
possible moment.
Paddling Pools.
The water from the various paddling pools in the parks is
regularly analysed and the results are satisfactory.