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have readily given their advice. The commonest household pest:
which form the subject of enquiries nowadays are carpet beetles, silver
fish, ants, furniture beetles and scavanger beetles. It is also quite
common to find that insects normally found in gardens and which do
no real harm indoors have invaded the house and given cause for
anxious concern to occupiers. The identification of such insects,
advice on control and the assurance that they are harmless afford
considerable relief to house occupiers. Rats and mice are dealt with
later in this Report.
3. WATER SUPPLY. The water supply of the Borough,
which is provided by the Colne Valley Water Co., except for a small
area in the southern end of the district supplied by the Rickmans
worth and Uxbridge Valley Water Co., remained satisfactory in
quality and quantity. The supply is pumped from deep wells in.
the chalk outside the Borough boundaries. All of the samples taken
from piped supplies were reported as satisfactory.
No tendency to plumbo solvent action has been detected.
All dwelling houses in the Borough are provided with a mains
water supply.
There is a number of private wells in the Borough all in connection
with industrial undertakings, but in no instance is the water
from these sources used for drinking.
The Council have continued to express their concern at the
hardness of the public water supplies which have a total hardness
range from 210—274 parts per million. Whilst there would not
appear to be evidence of prejudicial effects to health from such hard
water its detrimental effects on boilers and hot water systems are
well-known.
4. SWIMMING POOLS. The two outdoor Swimming Pools
have continued to be a source of enjoyment and healthy recreation.
"Breakpoint" chlorination or superchlorination which was installed
just prior to the 1951 season has made it possible to maintain a
sparkling clear water, together with a minimum risk of infection.
Attendances at the Pools during the year were:—
Kingsbury 113,665
Vale Farm, Wembley 94,057
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