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Water supply—The greater part of the supply is
provided by the Metropolitan Water Board, and the
remainder by the South West Suburban Water
Company and is satisfactory in quality and quantity.
The supply is derived from the River Thames, and
treated at the Boards' Hampton and Kempton Park
works. 3,065 samples were taken for bacteriological
examination and 156 for chemical examination in the
Boards' laboratories and all were found satisfactory.
The natural fluoride content varies between 0.10
and 0.33 milligrammes per litre. The water is not
plumbosolvent.
Supplies are piped direct to houses, none of which
is permanently served by standpipes. There are no
premises in the borough in which water other than
that drawn from the mains is used for human
consumption.
Drainage and sewerage—With the exception of a
small number of isolated premises on the outskirts
which drain to cesspools or have pail closets, the
sewerage of the borough forms part of the West
Middlesex Sewerage Scheme, and is treated at the
Mogden sewage purification works which are now
controlled by the Greater London Council.
Offensive smells in the vicinity of the works which
became prevalent during the latter half of 1964
continued at intervals in 1965. Temporary remedial
measures were taken during the year and long-term
improvements and extensions at the works are in
progress.
930 visits to premises were paid in connection with
choked or defective public sewers, 1,510 to deal with
choked or defective private drains and 47 tests were
applied.
Rivers and streams—No complaint of pollution was
made to the Department of Health during the year.
Liaison is maintained with the Borough Engineer &
Surveyor who has assumed some of the functions
formerly discharged by officers of the Middlesex
County Council. The Greater London Council
maintain control of major waterways.
Public cleansing—The cleansing of streets and
collection of refuse are controlled by the Borough
Engineer & Surveyor. Refuse is disposed of by
controlled tipping and collection of house refuse is
carried out weekly.
General nuisances—In addition to the work recorded
in other paragraphs, which includes duties assimilated
as a result of the creation of the new borough, the
public health inspectors continued their general
investigation of complaints and in advising
complainants as to how and where matters outside
the scope of the department's powers may receive
attention. 1,784 complaints were investigated during
the year.
Feral pigeons—Complaints about nuisance and
damage by wild pigeons continue to be received and
an improved service under Section 74 of the Public
Health Act 1961 was put into operation during the
year. Due regard is paid to the limitations imposed
by the Protection of Birds Act 1954, and to the
feelings of that section of the public addicted to
encouraging birds by providing food for them. Three
hundred and fifty-two pigeons were destroyed,
together with large numbers of eggs and nests.
Exchange of articles for rags—No contraventions of
Section 42 of the Public Health Act 1961 were
reported during the year.
Clean air—The council continues to co-operate with
Warren Spring Laboratory by maintaining eight sets
of smoke and sulphur dioxide measuring apparatus,
and by forwarding to the laboratory monthly returns
showing the average, highest and lowest daily readings
obtained from each set of apparatus.
Progress continues in the implementation of the
programme of smoke control orders, and at the end
of the year 20 such orders, covering 5,925 acres and
comprising 26,128 dwellings and 1,121 other buildings
were in operation. Three further orders covering 1,628
acres and comprising 4,336 dwellings and 226 other
buildings were submitted to the Minister of Housing
and Local Government and are awaiting his
confirmation. Twelve thousand and ninety-seven visits
were paid in connection with this work.
The principle of clean air now appears to be
generally accepted and objections to the making of
smoke control orders are rare. The recognition of a
wider range of appliances for grant purposes has
encouraged many householders to instal appliances
other than open fires despite the higher cost. The
higher range of expenditure now accepted for grant
purposes is naturally reflected in the sums paid out
in grants by the local authority, which show a
substantial increase on those prevailing in the early
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