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89
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
The following report was also made to the Public Health
Committee in July: —
in consequence of numerous complaints as to the colour of
the water supplied by the Southwark and Vauxhall Water Company
i instructed the inspector to take a sample of the water
from the Public Health Department for the purpose of being
analysed.
The sample was taken on the 22nd June, and was received
by the Public Analyst on the 23rd June. The analysis shows
that there has been very serious pollution of the water supplied,
the organic matter showing an enormous increase.
An independent examination was made by a resident in the
Borough and his report showed similar results, but in addition a
bacteriological examination showed that the water contained a
large number of bacteria, and many colon bacilli.
The Official Analysts' report for the month of June will not
be received until next week, and 1 would call the attention of the
Committee to the fact that no information was received from them
by the Sanitary Authority of any pollution of the water supplied.
i am of opinion that the Medical Officers of Health ought to
be informed at once by the Official Analysts when any extensive
pollution of the water is observed so that some means of preventing
any evil effect may be at once taken by the Sanitary
Authority, such as the distribution of notices broadcast throughout
the Borough to the effect that the water is not in a satisfactory
condition, and should be filtered and boiled before being
drunk.
The Medical Officers of Health of the Metropolitan Boroughs
in London, have always depended upon the daily analyses of the
Official Analysts as being sufficient to protect the interests of the
public, but unless the information is communicated to the Sanitary
Authority concerned, their analysis is, from the public point of
view, not of much advantage.
i have also received complaints with reference to the Lambeth
Company's water, but this water has not been analysed by
the Public Analyst of the Borough.