London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Bexley 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bexley]
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water standing in the lead pipe overnight and the other was a sample of water after running the
tap for a few minutes. The results are set out in the following table: —
Lead content of water from mains taps in consumers' premises
| Lead content (mg/1.Pb) | Samples of water standing In lead pipe overnight | Samples of water after running the tap |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 0.01 | 10 | 37 |
| 0.01 | 31 | 57 |
| 0.02 | 21 | 4 |
| 0.03 | 8 | 1 |
| 0.04 | 9 | 0 |
| 0.05 | 5 | 0 |
| 0.06 | 5 | 0 |
| 0.07 | 4 | 1 |
| 0.08 | 1 | 0 |
| 0.09 | 3 | 0 |
| 0.10 | 1 | 0 |
| 0.12 | 1 | 0 |
| 0.16 | 1 | 0 |
| 100 premises | 100 premises |
The above results are very satisfactory and the figures are within the limits of the World Health
Organisation European Standards for Drinking Water Quality. This states that the upper limit for
lead in running water in the supply should not be more than 0.1 mg/1.(Pb); but where water
undertakings continue to use lead piping the concentration of lead (as Pb) should not exceed
0.3 mg/1. after 16 hours contact with the pipes.
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