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The provision of a safe and adequate water supply is of great public health importance and to
supply a large population is a task of some magnitude. The Metropolitan Water Board draws its supply
of water from the Rivers Thames and Lee ( part of the latter forming the New River) and 89 wells and
boreholes. They have 49 storage, balancing and subsidence reservoirs for unfiltered water extending
over an area of 3,356 acres and having a total capacity of nearly twenty-six thousand million gallons of
water. The water taken from the rivers is purified at 13 filtration works, comprising 165 slow sand filters
which occupy an area of 163 acres. As a further precaution chlorination of the water is carried out. The
distribution system consists of a vast network of 85 filtered water service reservoirs and nearly 8,500
miles of mains. The quantity of water supplied is between three and four hundred million gallons per day.
The ease with which pure and wholesome water is obtained by turning on a tap tends to make one
forget the huge organisation and the care and attention needed to provide and protect our water supply.
Considerable expense is involved and every effort should be made to avoid waste of water.
In recent years evidence has accumulated in U.S.A. and in this country that the presence of fluorine
in drinking water increases the resistance of teeth to caries. It is also know that excess of fluorine in
drinking water will cause mottling and discolouration of teeth. Large scale experiments on the addition
of a controlled amount of fluorine to drinking water have been carried out in U.S.A. and this has been
followed by a reduction in the incidence of dental caries in children. Though fluorine is a cumulative
poison there is no evidence that, in the concentration which will reduce caries, it produces any ill effect.
The problem of dental caries in children in this country is a serious one and it is hoped that earnest consideration
will be given to the possibility of its reduction by the addition of controlled amounts of fluorine
to water supplies.
Drainage and Sewerage.—The drainage and sewerage of almost the whole of the Borough
is arranged on the separate system and forms part of the West Middlesex Sewage Scheme. A few houses
on the outskirts of the Borough drain to cesspools. The following work was carried out during 1951:—
Drains exposed for examination 75
Drains unstopped, repaired, etc. 280
Waste pipes repaired, trapped, etc. 14
Soil pipes repaired, etc. 1
Ventilating shafts repaired, etc. 4
Fresh air inlets repaired, etc. 9
Rainwater pipes disconnected from drains Nil
Gully traps inserted or repaired 35
Disconnecting traps inserted or repaired 3
Disconnecting and inspection chambers provided 4
Disconnecting and inspection chambers repaired, etc. 44
Drains constructed or repaired 5
Total length (ft.) of drain pipes laid—
(a) 4" 162'
(b) 6" 23'
Drain tests applied 44
Other works executed 11
Cesspools emptied or repaired 1
Cesspools abolished Nil
Rivers and Streams.—No complaint of pollution was made to the Health Department during
1951. A watch is kept on streams for evidence of breeding of mosquitoes.
Closet Accommodation.—The closet accommodation of the Borough consists almost wholly
of water closets connected to the sewers. A few water closets drain to cesspools, and several houses on the
outskirts of the Borough have pail or chemical closets. The following works were carried out during
the year:—
Water closets constructed or rebuilt 6
Water closets provided in substitution for dry receptacles, etc. Nil
Water closets where walls cleansed 23
Water closets fitted with new flushing apparatus 21
New pans or pedestals provided 30
Water closets repaired or improved 81
Water closets blockages unstopped 23
Other closets provided or repaired Nil
Water closets connected to sewer and cesspools abolished Nil
Public Cleansing.—The cleansing of streets and the collection and disposal of refuse are carried
out under the control of the Borough Engineer. Refuse is disposed of by controlled tipping and the collection
of house refuse is carried out weekly. Through action by the Health Department 94 new dustbins
were provided durine 1951.
The following details of the salvage of waste materials have been provided by the Borough
Engineer:—
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
Paper (tons
686
943
1,228
1,331
1,111
Scrap metal (tons)
40
83
102
80
78
Textiles (tons)
56
64
84
75
57
Bones (tons)
4
3
2
1
—
Bottles, jars (tons)
166
109
23
36
63
Cullet (tons)
10
14
12
6
4
Rubber (tons)
9
1
1
—
—
Kitchen Waste (tons)
1,077
1,110
1,074
1,013
1,032
Miscellaneous (tons)
—
—
—
—
—
£11,207
£12,322
£12,702
£14,426
£20,902
15