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
City of Westminster 1905
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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Proportional Amount of Organic Impurities in Waters.
| Kent. | New River. | Lambeth. | South wark. | Grand Junction. | West Middlesex. | East London. | Chelsea. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 16th and 17th | 0.8 | 1.7 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 2.6 | 3.9 |
| February 6th | 1.0 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 2.7 | 3.2 |
| March 13th | 0.9 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 2.6 |
| April 10th | 1.1 | 1.5 | 3.9 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3 5 | 4.1 | 4.2 |
| May 10th | 0.9 | 1 '3 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 3.6 |
| June 6th | 0.8 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.4 |
| July 3rd | 0.7 | 1.1 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 2.8 | 3.7 |
| August 9th | 0.7 | 1.1 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.9 |
| September 20th | 0.7 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.4 |
| October 16th | 1 .1 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.4 |
| November 20th | 1.0 | 1.4 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 4.0 | 3.2 | 5.0 | 3.4 |
| December 11th | 0.9 | 1.7 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 4.4 |
A comparison of the above figures with those of previous years
shows that the quality of the water supplied to London is becoming
more uniform in quality by reason of the interchange which takes place,
and also on account of the more extensive use of stored water during
times of flood. There are yet startling differences in the water supplied
to some districts, although all the Thames supplies are taken from the
river within a very short distance of one another, but doubtless these
differences will disappear as the Water Board gets into proper working
order. During the winter months the average proportion of organic
matter was fairly high in the West Middlesex and Chelsea waters,
but Prof. Thorpe thinks on the whole the general quality of the water
was good for the time of year.
The rainfall recorded in Westminster in each month was:—
| January | 1.15 inches | May | 1.10 inches | September | 1.49 inches |
| February | 0.70 „ | June | 4.61 „ | October | 1.41 „ |
| March | 3.27 „ | July | 1.15 „ | November | 3.08 „ |
| April | 1.55 „ | August | 2.51 „ | December | 0.74 „ |
Applications were received for 11 certificates that the water supply
of 15 new buildings was sufficient, and were granted in each instance;
214 notices of the withdrawal of water supply were received from the
Water Companies, and in 76 instances it was reinstated.
A closing order was made in respect of one house in consequence of
the absence of water supply.