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changes described at some length in the annual
reports for 1965 and 1966.
This report is therefore in a more concise form
providing the information requested by the
Minister in Circular 1 /68 and incorporating
statistics required by the Prevention of Damage
by Pests Act 1949 and the Offices Shops and
Railway Premises Act 1963 together with such
explanatory or descriptive material as is necessary
adequately to show the extent of the work of the
department.
Water supply
The supply is adequate in quantity and is derived
from the River Thames and is treated and
distributed by the Metropolitan Water Board and
South West Suburban Water Company who
maintain strict control of purity. All dwellings in
the borough are supplied with drinking water
drawn direct from public water mains and none
permanently by standpipes. The water is not
plumbo-solvent.
'Fluoride is not added and the natural content
varies between 0.10 and 0.35 milligrammes per
litre.
Tn a sampling exercise conducted by the South
West Suburban Water Company between January
and November lead was detected in only 10 out
of 103 samples of treated water. In the 10 samples
the maximum lead concentration was 0.015 parts
per million and the average 0.007 parts per
million. In 7 out of 58 samples taken at
consumers' premises the respective concentrations
were 0.025 and 0.012 parts per million. The
highest concentration detected was one-half of
that internationally regarded as providing an
adequate margin of safety.
'As a result of informal action 60 supplies were
reinstated or tanks and fittings cleansed or
repaired during the year. Four check samples
were taken from the public supply, and six from
commercial premises. All were satisfactory.
Swimming baths and pools

'of 13 samples taken from swimming baths, one
was below standard. This was referred to the
general baths manager and dealt with forthwith.
Water in paddling pools and ponds is more
susceptible to external influences and liaison is
maintained with the borough engineer and
surveyor and the director of parks in ensuring
the highest possible standard of cleanliness.
Twenty-three samples were taken during the year
for this purpose.
Sewerage and sewage disposal
The sewerage of the borough forms part of the
West Middlesex Sewerage Scheme and sewage
effluent is discharged to the river Thames through
the Mogden purification works situated in the
borough and controlled by the Greater London
Council. Only a small number of isolated premises
on the outskirts have pail closets or cesspools.
'786 inspections were made of choked or
defective public sewers and 801 of private drains.
As a result 244 water closets were cleansed,
repaired or renewed, 12 new sinks provided and
18 repaired, 1,521 lengths of drain cleansed or
repaired and 179 ft relaid involving 129 water
or smoke tests, and 7 cesspools were cleansed
during the year.
Public Cleansing
'Cleansing of streets and collection of refuse are
controlled by the Borough Engineer and Surveyor.
81
'The General Baths Manager informs me that
attendances at the local baths were as follows:—