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6
the Council to make arrangements for its chemical and bacteriological
examination from time to time. Its colour has not been
satisfactory and matter in suspension has been found in it. This
suspended matter will clog the water filters and render them
useless. The terrible experiences of Maidstone and other places
render it needful that the inhabitants should be guarded against
the introduction of water-borne diseases.
The County Council at present takes no action and it will be
necessary that each district should provide for itself.
WATER CLOSETS WITHOUT WATER.
There still remain a number of water closets without water, and
their existence is an ever present menace to the health of the town.
I would again invite the Council to place them in the same
category as the obsolete bell-traps, and so that they may be dealt
with by the Sanitary Inspector.
TWO GALLON FLUSH TANKS.
By exhaustive experiments the Sanitary Institute has demonstrated
that flush tanks of two gallons are insufficient, and that
tanks of three gallons are necessary to clear the drains. Three
gallon tanks should therefore be introduced everywhere, but the
Colne Valley Water Company stands on its strict legal rights and
refuses to allow their introduction. The householder can secure
himself by seeing that his two gallon tank is emptied twice on each
occasion, and if the expenditure of the extra gallons becomes
general, the Water Company will soon perceive an advantage to
itself in permitting flush tanks of three gallons. That a town like
Harrow should be compelled by a private Water Company to go
on using a sanitary appliance of proved insufficiency is a strong
argument in favour of the water supply being placed in the hands
of the County Council, which would accept scientific facts and be
amenable to public opinion.
NEW BUILDINGS.
There have been 56 new dwelling-houses erected, 23 additions
and alterations made to those already existing, and 9 buildings, not
dwelling-houses, completed during the year. Eight drainage
plans were carried out.