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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.
One sample of shallow well water from an allotment site was taken and found to be
contaminated too much for it to be used for the purpose of watering growing plants to be
used for food. A faulty sample from the water supply of a private dwelling was the subject
of much investigation and work had to be carried out on the drainage system to secure
improvement.
Sewerage
Middlesex County Council provides the facilities for purification of sewage from
the Borough at the Mogden Sewage Works. The amount of congestion occurring in the
drains and sewers of the Borough, partly as a result of increase in the number of houses and
shops, partly due to the fact that improved knowledge of hygiene results in an increased use
of water for cleanliness meant that problems have arisen of overcharging of sewers, and
of flooding during periods of heavy rain. Measures to relieve this have had to be taken,
and the latest position with regard to these improvements is as follows:—
Surface water drainage was installed in parts of Dormer Wells Lane and Tentelow
Lane not previously served by surface water sewers and the risk of flooding in these roads is
reduced.
Work was in progress throughout the year on the Southern Soil Relief Sewer. This
scheme will be completed during 1962.
British Waterways installed a septic tank to deal with sewage from the cottages at
Bulls Bridge and only two pail closets remain at these cottages. The only other pail
closets emptied by the Council are two at "Springdale".
There are two cesspools emptied by the Council's gully emptier—one at "Springdale"
and one at Wyke Green.
Sanitary Inspection of the District
The total number of inspections of premises made during the year by the Public Health
Inspectors was 8,457. Table XI gives an analysis of the number and nature of such inspections.
There was a considerable rise in the amount of visits carried out under the Clean Air
Act (Smoke Control Areas) requirements. The progress of this work is speeding up as
the difficult early problems have gradually been overcome and a routine of survey, enquiry,
report and assessment established. These visits served multiple purposes, as any sanitary
defects in the houses visited would be brought to the notice of a health inspector calling
even though the purpose of his call was specific. The 1961 figure of 3,081 inspections in
connection with the Clean Air Act compares with 2,484 in 1960 and 1,708 in 1959.
An unpleasant feature of the Sanitary Inspection figures is the rise in the number of
visits required in connection with vermin, both as regards disinfestation and as regards
rats and mice control.
Market
There is a market, part open, part covered, in the High Street where a weekly horse
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