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III. - WATER SUPPLY.
1. Source of Water Supply-
(a) For the Port-
All the Docks in the London area obtain their water supplies from the
Metropolitan Water Board., Tilbury Dock obtains its water from the South
Essex Water Company.
The majority of the wharves are supplied by Public Water Authorities
within whose area of distribution they are situated, while several have
their own deep wells. A few have no water supplies, available for
shipping, in which case any water required can be obtained from water
barges.
(b) For Shipping-
Ships usually obtain water from the shore supplies as indicated above
but when no water is available at the berth or if a ship is lying at
buoys in the river, supplies are obtained from water barges.
2. Hydrants and Hosepipes-
Hydrants within the dock area are of the standard type in use by the
Metropolitan Water Board. These are situated at intervals along the quayside
and consist of an upright stackpipe with a nozzle coupling to which are
attached the hoses. The hoses, usually of rubber covered with a metal coil,
when not in use are coiled up and hung in specially constructed boxes at
convenient points within the docks. When in use particular care is taken
that the hoses do not sag into the dock water and in transference from the
ship to shore, that at no time do they come into contact with the dock water.
If this should happen the hoses are thoroughly cleansed and flushed with
fresh water before being again used.
3. Number of water boats and their sanitary conditions
There were fifteen water boats working in the Port during the year.
Water boats are all of steel construction and of the "single skin"
type., i.e. the skin of the boat forwas the sides and bottom of the tanks
and the deck forwas the top. The manholes are raised from 6 inches to 1 foot
above the level of the deck and have steel covers, fitted with locks to
prevent unauthorised persons dipping water from the tanks into buckets
which may be dirty, while the craft is unattended. It is the usual practice
to clean the tanks every three months and to cement wash them every six
months.
All water boats must be registered annually with the Port of London
Authority and before a certificate is granted they must be inspected as to
their fitness for navigation in the river and docks. Notification is
received that a vessel is coming up for re-registration by the Port of London
Authority and this opportunity is taken by the Port Health Authority to
inspect the vessel as to its fitness for the carriage of drinking water.
The Port of London Authority await a communication from the Port Health
Authority stating that the vessel is in a fit condition for the carriage of
drinking water before issuing the certificate. This arrangement has worked
smoothly for a number of years and enables your Officers to get such repairs
and improvements as are from time to time necessary, carried out without
difficulty.
IV. PORT HEALTH REGULATIONS, 1933 and 1945.
(1) Arrangements for dealing with Declarations of Health.
(2) Boarding of vessels on arrival.
(3) Notifications to the Authority of inward vessels requiring medical attention.
(6)