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
Chigwell 1967
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Chigwell]
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" (b) The Board's river and well sources have not been
considered to have a plumbo-solvent action, on
account of their hardness content and alkaline
reaction. It should, however, be appreciated
that all types of water pick up varying amounts
of metal from piping, particularly when it is
newly installed; this applies to copper, zinc,
iron and also lead.
Tests for lead have been carried out in connection
with chemical analyses of samples of running
water collected from premises in the distribution
system and I set out below the information obtained
over the period 1st January to 31st December,1967:-
Lead content (mg/1. Pb) water from main taps in consumers' premises
| Number of samples | Percent. | |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 0.01 | 64 | 66.7 |
| 0.01 | 22 | 22.9 |
| 0.02 | 3 | 3.1 |
| 0.03 | 4 | 4.2 |
| 0.04 | 2 | 2.1 |
| 0.05 | 0 | - |
| 0.06 | 1 | 1.0 |
| 96 | 100.0 |
The above figures apply to the whole of the Board's
area but it should be pointed out that the general
characteristics of the water are similar throughout
the area so that the findings are applicable to
individual Boroughs.
The regular system of examination for lead in water
in domestic premises will continue during 1968.
/Water
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