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
Bromley 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bromley]
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33
Average Results of Chemical and Bacteriological examination of the
water supply to Bromley during the year 1951.
| Short-lands Well. | West Wickham Well. | Orpington Well. | River Thames water filtered at Walton works. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of samples | 6 | 5 | 2 | 249 |
| Ammoniacal Nitrogen | 0.005 | 0.010 | 0.000 | 0.021 |
| Albuminoid Nitrogen | 0.022 | 0.022 | 0.016 | 0.088 |
| Oxidised Nitrogen—Nitrate | 5.1 | 6.1 | 8.5 | 4.5 |
| Chlorides as Cl. | 16.3 | 15.0 | 16.0 | 23.0 |
| Oxygen abs. from Permanganate 3 hrs. at 80°F. | 0.05 | 0.22 | 0.09 | 1.35 |
| Turbidity in terms of Silica | — | — | — | 0.2 |
| Colour m.m. brown 2ft. Tube Burgess's Tintometer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Hardness (Total) | 295 | 268 | 292 | 258 |
| Hardness (Non-carbonate) | 77 | 32 | 52 | 63 |
| pH Value | 7.3 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 7.8 |
| Phosphate as P.O. 111/4 | — | — | — | 0.33 |
| Silic as Si. O2 Conductivity | 17 450 | 15 425 | 13 475 | 13 450 |
| No. of samples. | Plate count. (Av. per millilitre) Colonies counted on Agar. | Bact. Percentage of samples | coli. test. Average number Bact coli per 100 ml. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22°C (3 days) | 37°C (20-24 hrs.). | negative in 100 ml. | |||
| Shortlands Well | 256 | 7.8 | 0.1 | 100.0 | Nil. |
| West Wickham Well | 246 | — | — | 100.0 | Nil. |
| Orpington Well | 249 | 108.7 | 9.7 | 99.6 | .008 |
| River Thames water filtered at Walton Works | 255 | - | 22.7 | 99.6 | .004 |
Drainage and Sewerage.
Approximately half a mile of the South Eastern Main Intercepting
sewer was reconstructed and enlarged during the year.
Cesspools.
No new premises were erected with cesspool drainage and no
alterations to the drainage system of any other properties on cesspool
drainage have been carried out.
Cesspool emptying is undertaken by the Borough Engineer's
Department upon the request of the householders. During the year
twenty-three individual cesspools were emptied by the Department.