[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Uxbridge UDC 1956].

  • Uxbridge (London, England). Urban District Council.
Date:
[1957]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: [Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Uxbridge UDC 1956]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    19/30 (page 17)
    FIREGUARDS During the year 21 inspections were made of premises selling appliances coming within the provisions of the Heating Appliances (Fireguards) Act, 1952, and the Regulations of 1953. No infringements were observed. SMOKE ABATEMENT There are no heavy industries in the district and such industrial undertakings as exist are in the main situated in the township of Uxbridge, where the establishment of an industrial estate is tending to concentrate these activities in a selected zone. Apart from the foregoing there is a number of large establishments using commer¬ cial-type steam-raising plant, i.e. factories, hospitals and schools, and these are principally located in Hillingdon and Harefield. Thirty-five timed observations were recorded during the year involving three factories. On seven occasions smoke was emitted from the chimney of a joinery factory in such quantity as to be a nuisance, and on each occasion the matter was taken up with the manager. As a first measure the stack was raised 20 feet and some improvement was observed but periodic excessive emissions continued. The plant, which is hand fired and burns waste wood and shavings, has recently been inspected by a specialist engineer and arrangements have been made for the fitting of an automatic screw-stoker which I am informed is particularly suitable for the type of boiler in use. WATER SUPPLY The piped water supply of the District is provided from the mains of the Rickmansworth and Uxbridge Valley Water Company, and has been adequate for the requirements of the District. During the year eight samples of water have been taken in the Uxbridge town area, the district formerly served by the Council’s water undertaking, and fifteen samples taken in the outer areas. In addition, following complaints concerning the taste or colour of the water, three samples were collected from three different premises. All of the twenty-six samples were submitted to the Regional Public Health Laboratory for examination. Each was found to be of high bacterial purity and safe for drinking purposes. The number of dwelling-houses and the population supplied from the public mains are estimated to be as follows:— Number of Direct to the house ... By means of stand-pipes Dwelling-houses 16,551 1 Population 59,636 4