London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Heston and Isleworth 1910

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]

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43
(2) If a notice of the Council so served is not complied
with within the time specified on the notice, not being less than
28 days, the Council may serve notice on the occupier or
occupiers requiring him or them to vacate the house within 14
days, and he or they shall cease to inhabit the premises, and in
default shall be liable on summary conviction to be ordered to
quit the dwelling house within such time as may be specified on
the Order.
WATER SUPPLY.
Ninety-nine per cent. of all the houses in the district are
supplied with water by the Metropolitan Water Board. The supply
is derived from the River Thames, and is stored and filtered before
delivery to the consumers. It is excellent in quality and the
service is constant.
A few houses still draw their water from wells. Samples of
water from ten wells were examined during the year. In two
cases the samples shewed that the water, although of doubtful
purity, was useable. In four instances the wells were closed and
action was pending at the end of the year in the case of the
remaining four wells which were yielding polluted water.
In the majority of houses in which water is obtained from the
Metropolitan Water Board, cisterns are placed on the premises for
the storage of water therein before delivery to the consumer.
These cisterns are usually uncovered and situated so as to be
inaccessible for cleaning purposes. Many of them have not
been cleansed for years. One such cistern which came under
notice during the year was situated uncovered immediately under
the floor of the first floor back addition. To those who are aware
of the amount of dirt and filth which accumulates under the floor
boards over a period of years, it will be no surprise to learn that
during the cleansing of the cistern, the water ran like ink from the
tap over the sink. The Council requires to have power to make
bye-laws for the cleansing of cisterns.
It is further of extreme importance from the point of view of
public health that water for household use should be beyond all