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Water Supply
All water throughout the London Borough of Newham is supplied by the Metropolitan Water
Board and is satisfactory in quality and quantity. All premises are supplied directly from the
mains.
The proposal to introduce fluoridation of water supplies in the Metropolitan Water Board's
area has been supported by the Newham Council, but has not,yet received the unanimous support
of other Authorities in the Water Board's area of supply.
Sewerage and Sewage Disposal
Arrangements for the disposal of sewage are adequate for the area, disposal being through
the Greater London Council's Northern Outfall Sewer.
Swimming Baths
There are four public, four schools and two private swimming baths in the Borough and
samples are taken regularly for analysis.
Clean Air Act
A programme of introducing smoke control orders throughout the Borough has continued, and
the Newham Smoke Control Orders Nos. 3,4,5,6 and 7 have been made, and Nos. 8 and 9 should follow
in 1970/71. Altogether some 35,000 properties are now included in smoke control orders.
The problems arising from dust and fume emission from industrial premises as well as from
noise involve members of the staff in long and sometimes cold vigils, in order to make
observations and recordings. A considerable proportion of the observations are made between
9.00 p.m. and 3.00 a.m. including weekends. A great deal of time and work has been spent on
these aspects of environmental pollution. New measuring equipment has been purchased and the
officers trained in its use by attendance at special courses.
It is now an almost standard procedure for industrial undertakings when thinking of altering
or building new plants to consult not only the Chief Building Surveyor and the Planning Officer,
but also the Public Health Inspectors Section. In turn the Inspector will, if he thinks it
necessary, consult with either or both Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate and the Alkali Inspector,
so that when the Department makes a recommendation to the appropriate Committee all aspects will
have been fully investigated.
Offices, Shops and Railway Premises
One Inspector who was carrying similar duties with the former County Borough of East Ham
now carries out the same duties under the above Act •and its many Regulations. He and the District
Public Health Inspectors have very close co-operation which enables action to be taken without
delay. The main object of the legislation is to protect the workers not already covered by the
Factories Act, and it covers ventilation, furniture, lighting, safety precautions for all types
of office and shop machinery. Although much of this is a repetition of previous legislation
brought up-to-date and improved, it also includes safety of flooring and staircases. Considering
the number of shops and offices concerned, the number of offences is small.
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