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

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Enfield 1967

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Enfield]

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WATER SUPPLY
Part IV of the Public Health Act, 1936, as amended by Section 28
of the Water Act, 1945, and Section 78 of the Public Health Act, 1961,
makes it the duty of every local authority to take such steps as are necessary for
ascertaining the sufficiency and wholesomeness of water supplies within their
district.
With one exception the water supply to all dwellings in the borough is direct
from the public mains supply.
The Metropolitan Water Board supplies almost the whole of the borough
apart from the Hadley Wood, Cockfosters, area, which is supplied by the Lee Valley
Water Company.
Both the water companies take frequent samples for chemical and bacteriological
examination. No adverse reports were made during the year, all samples
conforming to the standards of purity considered suitable for public safety.
The waters are not liable to have plumbo-solvent action and the fluoride
content is insignificant.
Full details of water supply are published annually by the two water companies.
I am grateful to the Director of Water Examination of the Metropolitan Water
Board for the following report on the water supply to the London Borough of
Enfield for 1967.
"1. (a) The supply was satisfactory both as to quality and quantity throughout
1967.
(b) All new and repaired mains are disinfected with chlorine and after a
predetermined period of contact the pipes are flushed out and refilled;
samples of water are then collected from these treated mains;
and the mains are returned to service only after results are found to
be satisfactory.
The quality control from these laboratories is carried out by
means of daily sampling from sources of supply, from the treatment
works or well stations, from the distribution system, and through to
the consumer. Any sign of contamination or any other abnormality
is immediately investigated.
(c) (i) The Board has no record of the number of structurally separate
dwellings supplied in your area, but the population supplied
direct according to the Registrar General's estimates at 30th
June, 1967, was 262,148.
(ii) No houses were permanently supplied by standpipe.
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