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SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
The work of the Environmental Health Division is limited only by the number of staff available to
deal with the many aspects of this service. Every effort is made to make the best use of the staff
available and, in order to ensure adequate coverage of all functions the public health inspectorate is
divided into teams under seven senior inspectors, each team being responsible for a given branch of
duties. Technical assistants are also employed so that public health inspectors can devote their
time more fully to the more important problems. Eight pupil inspectors are at various stages of their
4-year course of training, their supervision and service training being under the control of one of the
senior public health inspectors as part of his normal duties.
Drainage and Sewerage
There are separate soil and surface water drainage systems to the greater part of the Borough.
Most of the soil system drains to the G.L.C. works at Deephams Purification Works, Edmonton and the
surface water is discharged into the local streams and the River Lee.
Pollution of the watercourses may arise if unauthorised soil drainage connections are made to
the surface water system or industrial processes may lead to contaminants from floors or yards being
washed down into the surface water drains. Considerable investigation is required to trace and stop
such pollution whenever it arises and to this end a close liaison is maintained with enforcement
officers of the Lee Conservancy Catchment Board.
A technical assistant experienced in plumbing and drainage work is continuously engaged in the
inspection of house drainage with a view to the detection of faults which may result in surface water
pollution, special attention being given to those areas where surface water samples indicate that
infringements may be occurring.
During the year 2,705 premises were inspected in this way and drainage corrections were
requested in 95 instances. "The public health inspectors took any necessary action to ensure that the
required works were carried out and, where appropriate, formal action was taken under the Public
Health Act 1936.
Water Supplies
A small area on the Borough boundary containing 106 premises between Great North Road and
Aylmer Road is supplied with water by the Lee Valley Water Company and the remainder of the Borough
receives its water from the Metropolitan Water Board. A report on the water supplied by the Lee
Valley Water Company was contained in the report of 1966.
Dr. Windle Taylor, Director of Water Examinations, Metropolitan Water Board, has kindly supplied
the following information regarding water supplied by the Board to Haringey during 1968:-
"1. (a) The supply was satisfactory both as to (i) quality, and (ii) quantity throughout 1968.
(b) All new and repaired mains are disinfected with chlorine; 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 1968, was 245,270.
(ii) No houses were permanently supplied by standpipe.
(d) No artificial fluoride was added, and where the fluoride content is indicated in the
analyses it represents the naturally occurring fluoride in the water.
2. (a) The supply was derived from the following works and pumping stations:-
River Thames (Northern group) supplies the higher elevation round Muswell Hill.
New River from Stoke Newington and Hornsey Works.
Park well (only in summer, and then to Northumberland Park area).
No new sources of supply were instituted and there were no changes to the general scheme
of supply in your area.
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