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A copy of the results of the examinations made by the
Colne Valley Water Company within the Borough is received
monthly, while, too, the Rickmansworth and Uxbridge Valley
Water Co. send copies of the bacteriological examination of
water taken from their Ickenham & West Drayton pumping
stations monthly, together with a copy of the Chemical Analysis
bi-monthly. The Medical Officer of Health was instructed to
inform the Water Companies of notifications of enteric (typhoidfever)
or other water-bourne diseases to the Water Company
supplying the district while the Borough Engineer and Surveyor
was instructed to bring to the notice of water undertakers any
building developments or any other operations in this district
which might affect the purity of a source of water supply.
An informal conference of the appropriate officers of the
Local Authorities supplied by these Companies was convened
for the purpose of discussing the question of water supply
having regard to the terms of Circular 1684. Such a meeting
was held in October, at which a small Committee was appointed
to consider and report upon the following matters:—
(a) The general responsibilities of Local Authorities
under the statutes with respect to water supply.
(b) Standard of hardness.
(c) Supply of drinking water to factories.
The hardness of the water supply in one part of the Borough
has come under consideration. There is probably more prejudice
than real observation with regard to soft and hard waters as
affecting the Public Health. An authoritative opinion is that
given in the standard textbook "The Examination of Water
and Water Supplies," by Thresh, Beale and Suckling. This
opinion is that as regards the general health of the drinkers the
softening of a hard water either by the lime process or by the
base-exchange method has no material effect.
Section 41 of The Factories Act, 1937, deals with the supply
of drinking water, requiring that there be provided at suitable
points an adequate supply of wholesome drinking water from
a public main or from some other source approved in writing by
the District Council, this approval not to be withheld except on
the grounds of the unwholesomeness of the water. During the
year one request for such a certificate was received, and after
a full examination of the water had been made and the observations
of the Medical Officer of Health in whose area was the
source of the water had been received the request was granted.
The number of confirmatory samples of the public water
supplies taken during the year was 8 for full analysis with
complete bacteriological examination while on 7 other occasions
a bacteriological examination was made.
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