London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Croydon 1952

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]

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108
WATER.
I am indebted to the Water Engineer, W. C. Knill, Esq.,
B.Sc., M.I-C.E., M.I.Mech.E., M.I.W.E., for the following
data:—
" The Water supply is drawn from deep wells in the chalk.
These wells are situated at Surrey Street, Stroud Green, Waddon,
Selhurst and Addington. The water from all of the wells is
treated by the addition of chlorine and in the case of the water
from Surrey Street and Waddon, ammonia is added after chlorination.
Owing to the occasional occurrence of turbidity in the
raw water from the Addington Well, this water is filtered before
chlorination. A portion of the northern side of the Borough is
supplied with water which is purchased in bulk from the Metropolitan
Water Board.

The amount of water consumed during the year was—

Corporation Wells2,379,270,000
M.W.B. Bulk Supplies800,350,000
Sutton District Water Co328,000
East Surrey Water Company297,000
Total:3,180,245,000

The water supply has been satisfactory in quality and
quantity. The supply is piped throughout the area.
(a) Bacteriological Examinations.
Regular bacteriological examinations were made of the raw
water going into supply after treatment.
430 raw water samples and 952 treated water samples were
thus examined bacteriologically during the year by the Chemist
and Bacteriologist on the staff of the Water Undertaking. In
addition 16 samples of raw water and 47 samples' of treated water
were subjected to bacteriological examination by the Consultant
Bacteriologist to the Water Undertaking. Further samples were
submitted by the Medical Officer of Health for examination by
the Public Health Laboratory Service.
The results of the bacteriological examination of the raw
waters were typical of waters pumped from the chalk, some of
them showing the normal deterioration in quality which occurs