London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Lambeth 1969

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lambeth Borough]

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127
WATER SUPPLY
I am indebted to Dr. E. Windle Taylor, Director of Water Examination,
Metropolitan Water Board, for the following report on the water supplied by the
Board to the Borough of Lambeth during the year
"The report relates to the Board's direct supply to the Lambeth administrative
area and its several parts. The information does not relate to private supplies and
supplies from other Water Undertakings (if any).
The supply was satisfactory both as to quality and quantity throughout 1969.
All new and repaired mains are disinfected with chlorine; after a predetermined
period of contact the pipes are flushed out and refilled; samples of water are then
collected from these treated mains; and the mains are returned to service only
after results are found to be satisfactory.
The quality control from these laboratories is carried out by means of daily
sampling from sources of supply, from the treatment works or well stations, from
the distribution system, and through to the consumer. Any sign of contamination
or any other abnormality is immediately investigated.
The Board has no record of the number of structurally separate dwellings supplied
in Lambeth, but the population supplied direct according to the Registrar
General's estimates at 30th June, 1969 was 325,066.
No houses were permanently supplied by standpipe.
No fluoride was added, and where fluoride content is indicated in the analyses it
represents the naturally occurring fluoride in the water.
The supply was derived from the following works and pumping stations
River Thames — derived
Honor Oak well
Merton well
No new sources of supply were instituted and there were no changes to the
general scheme of supply in the area.
The number of samples collected and the bacteriological and chemical analyses
of the supply from the above sources after treatment are shown on the following
pages.