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
Hammersmith 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hammersmith Borough]
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It is anticipated that when the long awaited improvement scheme is put into
effect there will be no further trouble of this nature, except to those basements
which are either below or less than one foot above the crown of the sewers. If
possible, works of a minor nature will be enforced to protect such basements from
flooding, but in those which cannot be so treated the drains may be sealed-off and
the use of the premises for residential purposes discontinued.
Water Supply
The water supplied to the Borough by the Metropolitan Water Board during
1961 has been satisfactory both in quantity and quality. It is derived from the
River Thames, stored in the Walton and Staines reservoirs and filtered and
chlorinated at Hampton, Ashford Common and Barn Elms Works. The average
results of chemical and bacteriological analyses of water supplied are set out
below: —
| Hampton | Ashford Common | Barn Elms | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. of samples | 52 | 52 | 52 |
| Ammonia Nitrogen | 0.045 | 0.055 | 0.034 |
| Albuminoid Nitrogen | 0.080 | 0.084 | 0.082 |
| Oxidised Nitrogen-Nitrate | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| Chlorides as CI. | 26 | 26 | 26 |
| Oxygen abs. from Permanganate 4 hrs. at 27°C. | 1.06 | 1.14 | 1.14 |
| Turbidity (Units) | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Hardness (Total) | 268 | 278 | 276 |
| Hardness (non-carbonate) | 52 | 52 | 52 |
| pH Value | 7.9 | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| Phosphate as PO4 | 0.95 | 0.95 | 0.90 |
| Silicate as SiO2 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Sulphate as SO4 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Fluoride as F | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.20 |
| Magnesium as Mg | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Surface Active Material as Manoxol | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.11 |
| No. of samples | Hampton | Ashford Common | Barn Elms |
| 1.066 | 765 | 510 | |
| Agar plate count per ml.: 20-24 hours at 37 °C. | 11.7 | 24.1 | 19.7 |
| Coliform count: Per cent samples negative in 100 ml. | 99.91 | 99.87 | 100.0 |
| E. coli/count: Per cent samples negative in 100 ml. | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
No new important extensions of trunk mains, nor changes in the general scheme
of supply have been made during the past year, but 757 yards of mains have been
laid. All new as well as repaired mains are disinfected with chlorine before being
brought into or restored to service.
One certificate was granted under Section 95(2) of the Public Health (London)
Act, 1936, with regard to newly erected flats having a proper and sufficient supply
of water.