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Boating and Paddling Pools.
With the co-operation of the Borough Engineer the regular chlorination of the
pools was continued throughout the year.
Pool attendants add chloride of lime to the pools each evening in quantities
prescribed, to give an estimated free chlorine content of 015 p.p.m. Sufficient
washing soda is also added to maintain a pH reaction of 8 0.
In addition, the pools are scrubbed out weekly with chloride of lime paste. The
results of these measures has been a consistent improvement in the purity and
appearance of the water.
Frequent tests made by the Department showed that the water was maintained
at a reasonable standard of purity.
Swimming Bath Water.
During 1954, 71 samples of swimming bath water were taken from the Council's
public baths at Woolwich, Plumstead and Eltham. These samples were submitted
to the Park Hospital, Hither Green, for bacteriological examination. All the
samples proved satisfactory. The Department carried out simultaneously its own
tests for free chlorine and hydrogen-ion concentration (pH value).
I set out below details of the samples of water taken.
Number of Number of Average Average Average
Samples Bacillus pH FreeTempera-
Baths. taken. Coli. value. Chlorine. ture.
Woolwich 24 0 7 .68 1.76 75°
Plumstead 24 0 7 .6 1. 79 75.4°
Eltham 23 0 7 .77 1.7575°
Public Houses.
The supervision of the hygienic conditions in public houses is an important
duty of the Department. There are 148 licensed premises in the Borough, 42 of
which also serve main meals. 271 inspections were made during the year, and
as a result 160 defects were found requiring the service of 19 informal notices and
2 formal notices. All these defects were subsequently remedied.
Excellent co-operation continues to exist between the brewery companies and
the officers of this Department, which has resulted in a general improvement in the
standard of hygiene and in the condition of the premises and equipment.
HOUSING
Housing.
At the end of 1954 there were estimated to be 41,647 dwellings in the Borough.
The number inspected for housing defects under the Public Health or Housing
Acts was 7,365 (compared with 8,579 in 1953), and 1,522 houses were found to be
not in all respects reasonably fit for habitation.
Some 1,038 houses were rendered fit by informal action by the Sanitary Inspectors.
This informal action included the service of intimation notices.
In 594 cases it was necessary to serve statutory notices in order to have the
necessary works carried out.
Over four times as many house-to-house inspections were carried out under
the Housing (Consolidated) Regulations, 1925, the total for 1954 being 2,647
compared with 618 in 1953.
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