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
Orpington 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Orpington]
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28
SANITARY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA.
Water Supply.
There are 45 premises within the area where a main piped water
supply is not available.
Twelve premises were connected to the water main in Biggin
Hill during the year, but there are still 74 not yet connected, although
the supply is available.
This total of 119 premises still dependent upon underground tanks or well supply is made up as under:—
| Number of premises with: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ward. | Stored Rainwater. | Wells. |
| Biggin Hill | 87 | — |
| Cudham | 14 | — |
| Knockholt | 1 | — |
| Chelsfield | 8 | — |
| Green-Street-Green | 2 | — |
| Downe | 3 | — |
| Farnborough | 1 | 1 |
| Poverest | — | 2 |
| 116 | 3 | |
The Council decided in December that Statutory Notices should
be served on thirty-one owners in the Biggin Hill area requiring them
to connect their premises to the main supply within a period of six
months.
I am indebted to the Director of Water Examination, Metropolitan
Water Board, for the following information on the supply of water to
the Urban District during the year 1955:—
"The supply to the district of Orpington during 1955 was derived
from nine local wells, namely, Orpington, North Orpington, Jewels
Wood, Sundridge, Eynsford, Shortlands, Westerham, Lullingstone, and
Horton Kirby. In addition there was a certain amount of Thamesderived
filtered water supplied to the area.
Bacteriological analyses of these wells are made five times a
week and consistently satisfactory results have been obtained from
samples of water passing into supply. Chemical analyses of well
supplies are also made at regular intervals.
All supplies are treated with chlorine on the works, but any
excess remaining after a period of contact is removed completely or
reduced to an amount that will not be perceptible to the consumer.
All new and repaired mains are disinfected with chlorine before
being restored to supply and samples of water from them are analysed