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11
SECTION C.
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
Water Supplies.
A hard, pure and constant piped water supply is provided by
the Metropolitan Water Board; the supply has been satisfactory in
both quality and quantity.
Rivers and Streams.
Forty-one visits were made during the year in connection with
the pollution of water courses. Informal action secured the
abatement of minor instances of pollution.
Fly Nuisance.
The emergence of flies from the waters of the Metropolitan
Water Board Reservoirs was again experienced and for the year under
review was a spring emergence in the vicinity of the William
Girling Reservoir. Prompt action by the Water Board was again
effective in providing at least temporary relief from the nuisance.
Public Cleansing.
A weekly collection of refuse and salvage was maintained and
the total weight of refuse disposed of at the Works was 12,200
tons as compared with 12,044 tons for the previous year. The
Registrar General's estimate of population at the mid-year 1957
indicated a further decline, being 46,450 as against the estimate
for mid-year 1956 of 46,840.. The number of premises from which
refuse was collected showed an increase, being 14,421 as against
14,378 for the previous year.
The anlysis of income on page 15 reveals a total figure of
£12,398 as against £12,164 for the previous year. Whilst the sale
of waste paper made a major contribution to this figure, notable
sums were also received from the sale of metals, both ferrous and
non-ferrous, cullet, bottles, jars and textiles.
The net cost per ton for the collection of refuse was 3l/8d. as
against 30/-d. for the year ended March, 1957, and 27/1d. for the
year ended March, 1956. The increase in the unit cost per ton was
due to Wage Awards, no additional men being employed during the year.
Five refuse collection vehicles were in daily use, with an
additional vehicle, a Ford Thames 4 ton vehicle fitted with a 4cylinder
diesel engine and a 15 cu. yd. "Eagle" Derby type body.