View report page

31.
REPORT OT .CHIEP SNITARY INSPECTOR.
To the Mayor, Alderman and Councillors.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In presenting this conposite report upon the work carried
out by your Sanitary Inspectors during the years 1939 - 1943 inclusive,
I should like to make a fen brief introductory ooraments.
First, the report deals with matters oorning within Sections C,D
and E, which relate to environmental hygiene. Secondly, the
period covered marks the close of a quarter of a century of my
service with your Corporation.
Thirdly, despite changes in personnel and reduced staff
together with other war-time interruptions, every effort has been
made to maintain as high a standard of work as circumstances
would permit. Occasionally it proved necessary to restrict activities
to urgent essential work, not necessarily covered by
normal duties. It is, perhaps, worth recording that for one
short period, owing to the changes referred to I was the sole
technical officer and there was no available clerical assistance.
Between than, the Sanitary Inspectors have manned the Burton
Road Control Room and have taken in their stride other duties in
several branches of Civil Defence before and during the war
period.
Fourthly, the report is restricted in extent and is
mainly statistical.
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES.
Section C.
1«( i ) - 7AT331.
The water supply of the town is furnished by the Metropolitan
"rater Board. Notwithstanding the many disruptions v/hich
have occurred, with consequent risk of contamination, the Board
may be congratulated on the maintenance of an excellent supply
both as regards quality and quantity.
Intermittent periods of drought caused temporary restriction
of the supply for non-domestic purposes but these were not
of a serious character.
Comparatively few shallow wells remain in the town - there
being only 19 premises known to be supplied with well water at
the end of 1943.
During the year 1941, the supplies from 15 wells were examined
bacteriologically and the 13 supplies which were found to
be satisfactory were earmarked for use in case of emergency,
^ortunately, such a need did not arise.
Bacteriological and chemical examinations of the piped
supply are carried out by the Water Board,
(ii). DRAINAGE AND SE7ERAGE.
During the period under review the only main drainage work
carried out, apart from routine and other repairs arising from
enemy action, was the piping in of a ditch north of Lower Marsh
Lane.