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DISINFECTION
The disinfection of houses has been undertaken by the Council during
the year and the Wandle Valley Hospital has continued to co-operate
in the disinfection of bedding.
Disinfection which is not absolutely essential in the interests of the
public health is also undertaken upon a payment of £1 per load for
bedding, etc., and 7s. 6d. for the first room and 3s. 9d. for each additional
room as applied to house disinfection.
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
WATER SUPPLIES
The water supply is piped throughout the district from the Sutton
District Water Company. All dwelling-houses in the area are connected
to public water mains. None of the inhabitants rely upon stand pipes.
During the year the supply has been satisfactory both in quality and
quantity.
It is understood that the Water Company carry out routine bacteriological
examinations of the raw and finished water daily from the wells
at Sutton and Woodmansterne, and also of the treated water going
into supply.
Routine chemical examinations are also carried out. The raw water
from the deep wells is of a relatively high degree of hardness. The
company are under a statutory obligation (Sutton District Waterworks
Act, 1903) to deliver water of not more than 9 degrees of hardness, and
an elaborate softening plant is in use.
During the year 28 samples of water were examined by the Public
Analyst or the Public Health Laboratory Service.
From the reports the water supply is shown to be satisfactory both
in chemical and bacteriological purity, and no cases of illness associated
with pollution of water supplies were recorded during the year.
The chlorination of water from private wells situated in industrial
premises was continued throughout the year.
DRAINAGE AND SEWERAGE
No major difficulties were experienced in the maintenance and
cleansing of soil and storm water drainage systems during the year.
RIVERS AND STREAMS
The cleansing of that section of the River Wandle which is the
responsibility of the Council, namely, from north of the Carshalton
Railway line to the Croydon Boundary, has been maintained throughout
1950, various parts being cleansed of silt and obstructions.
In October the springs in the Waddon Ponds, which are the principal
source of supply to the upper reaches of the river, began to flow again
after a break of over eighteen months. As a result the river once more
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