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SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES.
Water. Except for industrial purposes, such as the supply
of condensers, every house in the borough is supplied with water
by the Metropolitan Water Board. Unsatisfactory storage cisterns
are dealt with as they are discovered. As opportunity offers,
services are altered to provide one tap with direct connection to
the rising main and the remainder of the supply through a storage
cistern.
Several of the Council's institutions are supplied with water
from wells. Within recent months I have had occasion to carry
out a complete investigation into the condition of these wells and
the wholesomeness of the water supplied. The result of the
investigation was satisfactory, and certain recommendations
which were made were adopted for the conditions concerned. This
matter will be referred to in more detail in my next annual report.
It is perhaps not a matter of common knowledge that
there are in the borough a number of wells owned by
private persons and firms. In most instances the water
supplied is used for industrial purposes. A close watch
is being kept on those wells which are known to the local
authority. There is no doubt that the trend of action at the
present time is against the use of wells for any purposes excepting
those relating to industry. A difficulty which merits consideration
arises from the fact that it is sometimes difficult to prevent a few
individuals from using such water for drinking purposes. In this
connection a case recently dealt with in my department illustrates
how difficult it is to ensure that the water supply to houses in
connection with factories is, so far as wholesomeness is concerned,
beyond reproach. A firm which has large works in the area have
on the premises a well, the water from which is used for commercial
purposes. Towards the close of 1937 the firm adapted three
flats for occupation by their employees. The manufacturing process
includes the use of a large supply of water which is obtained
from the well, and the firm wished to supply the cottages
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