View report page

SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE BOROUGH
Water Supply and Water Services
Water is supplied to nearly the whole of the district by the South-West Suburban
Water Company. The Metropolitan Water Board supplies a small area in the southern
part of the district, and the Rickmansworth & Uxbridge Valley Water Company a small
area in the northern part. The supply is satisfactory, both in quality and quantity. Reports
on sampling carried out by the Metropolitan Water Board are issued from time to time.
All inhabited houses are supplied from public water mains and there are no standpipes in
use on mains.
Under Section 35, Middlesex County Council Act, 1956 provision is made for immediate
action to be taken by the Local Authority to restore a water supply which has been cut off
for some default.
Sanitary Inspections of the District
Under Section 38, Middlesex County Council Act, 1956, provision is made for
immediate action to be taken by the local authority to obtain the clearance of stopped up
drains.
The total number of inspections of premises made during the year by the Public
Health Inspectors was 7,144. The number of inspections showed a slight decrease in 1956.
Visits for housing defects and to food premises rose considerably, but there was a smaller
demand for work on overcrowding and vermin infestation.
Table XII gives an analysis of the number and nature of such inspections.
School Sanitation
Nine visits were paid to schools during the year. As co-operation between the
Education Department, Schools and Public Health Department staffs is excellent, these visits
are usually made following requests from the Education Officer or School Head Teacher,
and are usually because of emergency sanitary defects.
Information was received from the Divisional Education Officer that no major works on
school sanitation were undertaken during 1956.
Eradication of Bed Bugs
Statistics for the year:—
(a) Number of Council houses
(1) found to be infested 3
(2) disinfested during the year 3
(b) Number of other houses Total 12
(1) found to be infested 9
(2) disinfested during the year 9
Canal Boats
One boat was inspected in transit on the canal. The condition of boat and occupants
was satisfactory. There were no complaint notices issued by other authorities.
Mortuary and Post-Mortem Room
The mortuary, situated in Havelock Road, provides adequate accommodation for the
Borough. No bodies were deposited in the mortuary during the year. 182 bodies were
deposited in the Mortuary at Acton for post-mortem purposes and coroner's inquest if
necessary.
Factories Act, 1937
The following tables give details of the work done in connection with the factories and
outworkers in the Borough:—
28