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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 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bromley]
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40
The supply of water for the Borough is provided by the Metropolitan
Water Board, and I am indebted to the Director of Water
Examination, to that authority, for the following information on
the supply during the year 1955:—
The supply to the Borough of Bromley is from five of the
Board's Kent wells, namely, Deptford, North Orpington, Orpington,
Shortlands and West Wickham, together with Thames-derived
filtered water.
All the water is chlorinated before it leaves the works. Contact
tanks are now in operation at all these works to give opportunity
for the chlorine to exert its full effect before the water is pumped
into supply. Any residual chlorine in the well waters is completely
removed before the water leaves the works.
Bacteriological analyses of all supplies are made at least five
times a week and in the case of the river-derived supply the water
is tested bacteriologically at all stages of purification. All new and
repaired mains are disinfected with chlorine before being restored
to use and samples of water from them are tested to establish that
the quality of the water is up to the standard normally supplied.
None of the supplies is plumbo-solvent.
The closest watch is kept for any evidence of deterioration in
quality whether physical, chemical, bacteriological or biological
and immediate action is taken if the results of analyses are not up
to standard on the works and in the distribution system.
The following tables give the average results of the chemical
and bacteriological analyses of the various supplies to the area for
1955
Average results of the Chemical and Bacteriological examination of the water supplied to Bromley during the year 1955. (Parts per million unless otherwise stated.)
| Shortlands Well | West Wickham Well | Orpington Well | North Orpington Well | Deptford Well | Thames-derived filtered water | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of samples | 10 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1663 |
| Ammoniacal N itrogen | 0.002 | Nil | Nil | 0.003 | 0.002 | 0.014 |
| Albuminoid Nitrogen | 0.020 | 0.030 0.019 | 0.019 | 0.017 | 0.085 | |
| Oxidised Nitrogen—Nitrate | 4.5 | 5.5 | 7.5 | 5.4 | 7.0 | 3.8 |
| Chlorides as CI | 17 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 35 | 26 |
| Oxygen abs. from Permanganate 4 hours at 27°C. | 0.08 | 0.06 | 0.08 | 0.07 | 0.20 | 1.04 |
| Turbidity in terms of Silica | Nil | Nil | 0.3 | Nil | Nil | 0.2 |
| Colour m.m.brown 2 ft. Tube Burgess's Tintometer | Nil | Nil | 3 | Nil | Nil | 12 |
| Hardness (Total) | 272 | 260 | 282 | 265 | 359 | 258 |
| Hardness (non-carbonate) | 70 | 35 | 50 | 35 | 126 | 65 |
| pH Value | 7.1 | 7.5 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 7.8 |
| Phosphate as P.O4 | 0.05 | — | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.09 | 0.50 |
| Silica as SiO2 | — | — | — | — | — | 10 |
| Sulphates SO4 | 41 | 5 | 13 | 8 | 94 | 49 |
| Conductivity | 450 | 400 | 425 | 425 | 550 | 450 |