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
Paddington 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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27
PIGEONS.—Six complaints about pigeons were received during
the year and were dealt with by advice from the Public Health
Inspectors, or by informal action if their congregation was caused
by someone feeding them.
PUBLIC SWIMMING BATHS.—Water for the two swimming
baths in the Borough is supplied from the Metropolitan Water
Board's mains. Apart from routine tests by the Baths' staff thirteen
samples were taken for bacteriological and chemical analysis by the
Public Analyst during the summer months.
WATER SUPPLY.—All drinking water in the Borough is supplied
from the Metropolitan Water Board's mains and the Director
of Water Examination (E. Windle Taylor, M.A., M.D., D.P.H.)
has kindly supplied the following report and figures.
The water is derived from the River Thames, stored in the Board's reservoirs in the Thames Valley and filtered and chlorinated at the Board's works at Hampton and Ashford Common.
| Chemical Examination | Hampton | Ashford Common |
|---|---|---|
| Number of samples | 52 | 52 |
| Ammonia nitrogen | 0.040 | 0.046 |
| Albuminoid nitrogen | 0.078 | 0.081 |
| Nitrate nitrogen | 40 | 4.0 |
| Chlorides as Chlorine | 31 | 31 |
| Oxygen absorbed from permanganate (four hours at 27°C.) | 1.12 | 1.14 |
| Turbidity units | 0.3 | 0.2 |
| Colour—Burgess's Tintometer | 12 | 12 |
| Hardness (total) | 264 | 276 |
| Hardness (non-carbonate) | 58 | 58 |
| pH value | 7.8 | 7.9 |
| Phosphate as P04 | 1.2 | 1.3 |
| Silicate as Si02 | 9 | 10 |
| Sulphate as S04 | 61 | 61 |
| Fluoride as F | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Magnesium as Mg | 6 | 6 |
| Surface active material as Manoxol | 0.12 | 0.12 |
| Electrical conductivity (micromhos) | 550 | 560 |
The above figures are given as milligrammes per litre unless otherwise stated.
| Number of samples | 1,121 | 767 |
| Agar plate count per ml. (20—24 hours at 37°C.) | 11.9 | 20.1 |
| Coliform count—per cent, samples negative in 100 ml. | 99.91 | 100 |
| E. coli count—per cent, samples negative in 100 ml. | 100.0 | 100.0 |