View report page

7
Water Supply.—Several large firms possess private wells
drawing water from the chalk, but practically the whole of the
Borough is supplied with water by the Metropolitan Water Board,
successors to the East London Water Company, the main source of
the water being derived from the River Lee and the wells sunk by the
latter company.
Milk Supply.—Under the Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops
Orders, 316 premises were on the Register for the sale of Milk at
the commencement of the year, the majority of these being small
general shops retailing very small quantities of milk, the storage of
which is frequently of a doubtful character. On inspection, 64 were
found to require cleansing or to exhibit defects remediable under the
Public Health Acts. 17 milkshops were struck off the Register and
36 placed thereon during the year.
In addition to the above, the Register contained the names of 18
persons registered as cowkeepers. 105 visits were paid to the cowsheds
of these persons, and in several cases notices to cleanse or remedy
structural defects were served upon the cowkeepers. Most of the
cowsheds were kept in a fairly clean state, but there is still much
room for improvement in some, both in the character of the buildings
and in the care exercised in the collection and distribution of the
milk.
With a view to the detection of Tuberculosis of the Udder, prior
to the year 1908, an annual inspection of all cows in the Borough
was made by the Council's Veterinary Surgeon, but in that year the
Council, on the advice of the Medical Officer of Health, decided that a
quarterly inspection should be made.