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
Southwark 1968
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, Borough of]
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| Lead content (mg/1 Pb) | Samples of water standing in lead pipe overnight | Samples of water after running the tap |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 0.01 | 10 | 37 |
| 0.01 | 31 | 57 |
| 0.02 | 21 | 4 |
| 0.03 | 8 | 1 |
| 0.04 | 9 | 0 |
| 0.05 | 5 | 0 |
| 0.06 | 5 | 0 |
| 0.07 | 4 | 1 |
| 0.08 | 1 | 0 |
| 0.09 | 3 | 0 |
| 0.10 | 1 | 0 |
| 0.12 | 1 | 0 |
| 0.16 | 1 | 0 |
| 100 premises | 100 premises |
These results are very satisfactory and the figures are within the limits of the
World Health Organisation European Standards for Drinking Water Quality. This states
that the upper limit for lead in running water in the supply should not be more than
0.1 mg/1 (Pb); but where water undertakings continue to use lead piping the concentration
of lead (as Pb) should not exceed 0.3 mg/1 after 16 hours contact with the pipes.
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