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12
THE REPORT OF THE CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH INSPECTOR
Mr. W. L. LEACH, IS CONTAINED IN THE FOLLOWING
SECTIONS 'C' 'D' and 'E'
SECTION 'C' — SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE
AREA
Water Supply
The domestic water supply has been of satisfactory hygienic
quality and adequate in quantity during the year 1958. The water
is derived from the non-tidal portion of the River Thames, stored in
the Metropolitan Water Board reservoirs at Staines, Littleton and
Walton, and filtered and chlorinated at the Hampton Works.
The Board's waters are not plumbo-solvent.
Samples are collected at each stage of purification and in the distribution
system daily. Immediate action is taken in respect of any
form of contamination or of any variation in quality. All repaired
mains are disinfected with chlorine before being returned to service.
I am indebted to Dr. Windle Taylor, Director of Water Examination
to the Board, for the information on bacteriological sampling
of water supplies given in Table 12, from which it will be seen that
a very high standard is maintained.
SEWERAGE AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL
The year under review was one in which the amount of rainfall
was well above the average. There was an almost complete absence
of complaints of smells from the sewers or sewage disposal works.
Some of the main sewers, however, gave trouble, and substantial works
of repair were effected in different parts of the Borough. This sort of
work will become increasingly necessary, especially on the surface
water sewers. The Borough Surveyor is preparing several re-drainage
schemes and construction work on the first of these schemes will
commence shortly. Mechanical equipment for more efficient and
expeditious cleansing of the sewers has been ordered.
VERMINOUS PREMISES ETC.
Rodent Control
Complaints of rats and mice were at the rate of about three per
week and each infestation necessitated an average of 4 to 5 treatment
visits. No undue difficulties were encountered in dealing with the
infestations found. With a change in the method of payments of
grants from central government funds the local authorities will now
be able to exercise more freedom in the allocation of funds for such
purposes as sewer baiting. A more critical examination of the usefulness
of this routine can now be made.