View report page

48
Appendix.
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH ON
UNDERGROUND WATER SUPPLIES.
In accordance with the request of the Ministry of Health contained
in their Circular letter 91222/1/46/C, dated 13th August, 1947, a survey
of all deep wells known to exist in the Borough has been made, and
I submit herewith my report on them.
The total number of well borings is 29, situated at 18 different
premises. Particulars are set out in the attached list. For the sake
clarity and convenience, they can be classified, and I am dealing with
them, under the following headings —
(1) Borings in actual use 17
(2) Borings disused, but still open 4
(3) Borings permanently sealed 4
(4) Others 4
29
(1) Borings in Actual Use.
Particulars of the premises at which these wells are situated, and
important data relative to the borings, are given in the attached list;
together with the reports of the Public Analyst on samples of the water
taken ,for bacteriological examination and chemical analysis. The
reports show that, in general, the water was, at the time the various
samples were taken, of a high degree of purity, so high, in fact, that
no sample was reported as being unfit for drinking. It is, however,
very unwise to place too much reliance upon a single sample, for it is
a well-known fact that a well which normally yields water of satis'
factory purity may, for various reasons, become so polluted, often in a
very short space of time, as to render it dangerous to use the water
for human consumption, at least without suitable treatment. It wil
be noted that there are 5 wells (4 at the Latchmere Baths and 1 at the
Co-operative Wholesale Society's Milk Processing Depot at Silverthorne
Road), the water from which is used for drinking. In the case of
the Baths, the water is chlorinated before use as a safety measure, and
samples for bacteriological examination are taken at fortnightly
intervals, with results which have so far been consistently satisfactoryIn
the case of the Milk Processing Depot, the water is-used untreated,
but the Society have it regularly examined, and copy of their Analys't
report is sent to me at quarterly intervals under arrangements made
between them and the Council in 1938. Here again, the reports have
always been satisfactory. In two further cases, namely, Mark Mayhew,
Ltd., and Meux's Brewery, Ltd., the water is used in the processing
of wheat and beer respectively. Regarding Meux's, the Analyst reports
that tidal water is gaining access to the well, and that the pollution
has not been completely removed by natural filtration of this water
in its passage through the ground. Although the contamination
slight, he recommends that this well be kept under observation. It Will
be noted that ingress of tidal water is reported in several wells, after
' it is, I believe, becoming increasingly common over London. This