Dr. R.J. Reece's report to the Local Government Board on the sanitary circumstances and administration of the Williton Rural District, with special reference to the appointment of medical officer of health.

  • Reece, Richard James, 1862-1924.
Date:
1910
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Dr. R.J. Reece's report to the Local Government Board on the sanitary circumstances and administration of the Williton Rural District, with special reference to the appointment of medical officer of health. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    Dunster.—The water of a spring is collected in a small covered receiving tank in a combe about two miles to the S.W. of the village, whence it flows by gravitation through a 4-inch iron main to Dunster. The over- flow from the tank is piped to the water mains of Minehead Urban District. This district obtains its water supply from the same locality as does Dunster, and for some distance the water mains of the two places are laid side by side. The supply of water is ample, and appears to be free from pollution. The village of Alcombe, in Dunster parish, derives its supply from springs situated in a wood to the S.W. of the village. The water is piped to a small brick reservoir situated to the western side of the village, whence it flows by gravitation to supply the village. There appears to be no source of pollution in the neighbourhood of the springs. But within a few feet of the reservoir is a pigsty on a higher level than the floor of the reservoir ; this should be removed and the ground surface immediately around the reservoir, which at the time of my visit was littered with rubbish, should be covered with impermeable material. There is a supplemental supply to the village of Alcombe, derived from springs situated near those already described. This supply is the property of a landowner who, by arrangement with the owner of Dunster-Alcombe estate, allows the overflow from his supply to pass by a pipe to the water main from which Alcombe is supplied. Also by arrangement with the owner of the Dunster-Alcombe estate, the Minehead Urban District Council are to give 20,000 gallons of water per day to the Alcombe supply if required so to do. Luccombe.—There are two supplies to the village of Luccombe proper. Springs which rise on a hillside above the village are collected in two reservoirs, whence the water flows by gravitation to the houses. These springs are situated one above the other on the hill side ; the upper supply belongs to the rural district council, the lower to a local landowner. The supply is ample and appears to be free from pollution. Luxborough.—The parts of this parish known as Church Town and Kingsbridge have each a small private supply of water. In each case pipes have been laid to springs on the hillside and the water collected in small covered tanks, whence it is distributed to the village by gravitation. On higher ground than the gathering area of these supplies the ground is cultivated. A portion of the parish of Minehead Without is supplied from the Alcombe water supply mentioned above, and from the Minehead Urban District Council’s mains. Porlock and Doverliay, the latter being in the parish of Luccombe but really forming part of the village of Porlock, are provided with a public water supply. This supply is derived from two sources given to the council by private landowners. The water is derived from springs rising in combes within a short distance of the village. The mains, etc., were provided by loan after inquiry by the Board, the village of Porlock being supplied in 1876, and West Porlock and Porlock Weir in 1877. The source appears to be free from obvious contamination. The water is collected in small reservoirs, whence it flows to the village by gravitation. In the summer months the supply to Porlock now runs short at certain periods of the day. This may be accounted for either by the springs not yielding a sufficient quantity to meet the hourly demand, the storage capacity being very limited ; or on account of the small size of the mains, 24 inches in diameter. Certain lengths of the main have recently been taken up, and found to be much corroded, and the internal diameter materially decreased by rust. The water supply to this village needs improvement. The mains should be replaced by pipes of larger diameter, not only in order to allow of sufficient water passing to the village at the hours of greatest consumption but also to permit of suitable fire hydrants being provided. The yield of the springs in the dry season should be carefully estimated, and if the amount of water available is found to be less than the quantity required, then either additional storage should be provided, or the supply should be sup- plemented from other springs, which appear to be available in the vicinity.