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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
barge s.
(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 th
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 Metropolit
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 fourteen water boats working in the Port during the year.
IV. PORT HEALTH REGULATIONS, 1935 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.
(4) Mooring Stations designated under Article 10.
(5) Particulars of any Standing Exemptions from the provisions of Article 14.
(s) Experience of working Article 16.
The above remained the same as reported in detail in my Report for 1947.
(7) What, if any, arrangements have been made for
(a) Premises and waiting rooms for medical examinations.
Medical examinations are usually carried out on board ship but there are
rooms available for the medical inspection of aliens on the Tilbury Landing
Stage.
(b) Cleansing and disinfection of ships, persons and clothing and other
articles.
Disinfection of infected quarters is usually carried out by the Sanitary
Inspector in whose area the vessel is berthed. Should, however, the space
requiring disinfection be large, a private firm is employed who carries
out the disinfection under the supervision of the Sanitary Inspector.
(6)