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area in the southern end, of the district which is supplied by the
Rickmansworth and Uxbridge Valley Water Co., At no time has
there been an acute water shortage such as has been experienced
in some parts of the country where the supply has been from upland
surface sources. In order to maintain an adequate supply in
the Borough new mains have been provided by the Company. The
supply is pumped from deep wells in the chalk and there is, therefore,
little liability to plumbo-solvent action. On the contrary the
water is somewhat hard and has been of the order of 200—
220 p.p.m. and most local Authorities within the supply area of
the Company would like to see a reduction in this hardiness.
Frequent bacteriological examinations have shown the water
to be satisfactory.
All dwellinghouses in the Borough are provided with a mains
water supply.
5. SWIMMING POOLS. The two Swimming Pools belonging
to the Corporation have continued to be well patronised during
the summer months and have afforded a healthy source of recreation
and enjoyment. Water is supplied to both pools from the
Colne Valley Water Company's mains and during the season continuous
mechanical filtration and chlorination are exercised.
Residual chlorine in the water is maintained between 0.2 and
0.5 p.p.m. The Council contemplate installing "break point"
chlorination in the near future, which should give an even greater
margin of safety, a better control of algæ growth, and give that
additional sparkle to the water which is to be desired.
6. HOUSING. During the year, 133 cases of overcrowding
were relieved, of which 116 were provided with accommodation by
the Council. The number of cases of overcrowding known to the
Department at the end of the year was 516.
Under the liaison which exists between the two Departments
concerned, all cases of suspected overcrowding are referred from
the Housing Department to the Health Department for investigation,
and all cases coming to the knowledge of the Health Department
are notified to the Housing Department. During the
year 885 visits were made by Sanitary Inspectors in connection
with overcrowding. Similarly, medical certificates received
in the Housing Department in support of applications for Council
houses are submitted to the Medical Officer of Health for his
opinion as to whether the cases come within the Council's scheme
of priorities on medical grounds. In addition, where investigation
shows that special medical grounds exist (with or without a
medical certificate) the Housing Department is notified accordingly.
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