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
Haringey 1968
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Haringey]
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| 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 leadpiping the concentration of lead (as Pb) should not exceed 0.3 mg/1 after 16 hours
contact with the pipies."
Swimming Baths and Paddling Pools
Public Health control of the public and privately owned pools is maintained by regular sampling
on behalf of the Health Department of water for bacteriological and chemical examination from the
swimming pools in the Borough by special chemists on the staff of the Scientific Branch of the
Greater London Council. Samples are similarly taken from paddling pools in the parks when these are
in use during the summer months.
The reports on these samples have been generally satisfactory and shown a high standard of
operation of the chlorination and filtration plants installed at the swimming pools.
Control of the paddling pools during very hot spells in the school holidays presents a problem.
At such times these pools are heavily used and there are no installations for accurately dosing the
water with chlorine. The problem is exacerbated by the foreign matter carried into the water on the
children's feet from the adjoining play areas, which may rapidly absorb any free chlorine in the water.
The Baths Department are advised of the results of the tests in respect of Council controlled
establishments so that they may be used to supplement the tests undertaken by the staff of that
Department.
Smoke Control Areas
The 1st December 1968 marked the conclusion of a sustained programme started by the three
predecessor boroughs which were merged on the formation of Haringey to apply smoke control to the
whole of the Borough. On that date the following two Orders came into operation and the last two
remaining areas in Haringey then became subject to the smoke control legislation; namely
Hornsey No. 10 area - 300 acres 3,663 dwellings
Tottenham No. 8 area - 397 acres 3,337 dwellings
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