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

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City of Westminster 1921

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]

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46
to the water supply of London. The Ministry of Health issued a letter
asking that sanitary authorities should, as far as possible, restrict the use
of water for such purposes as the watering of streets or recreation grounds
and the flushing of sewers. The need for economising water was also
impressed on the public. On account of the want of rain, causing a
diminished flow in the sewers and the prolonged high temperature,
flushing was more required than usual as offensive smells were given off
through the street ventilators of many of the main sewers, and a
number of people were reported as suffering from 6eptic throats in
consequence.
The Water Board draws its water from three sources : the Thames
Valley (59 per cent, of the total supply), the Lea Valley (23 per cent.),
and from a number of wells (18 per cent.). In addition to the Water
Board's supply water is also obtained from many private wells which
have been sunk to a depth of 300 to 500 ft. or more through the
London clay into the chalk bed so as to tap the great reservoir of
water which exists there, and which is fed largely by the rainfall in
Hertfordshire. There are 15 of such wells in Westminster, and inquiry
at the end of the year disclosed that the water in two had diminished,
so that their use had to be given up, while in the others the head of
water had sunk about 25 ft., but the amount being raised was up to
the average, analysis of the various wells showed that the purity of the
water had been in no way affected.
Many years ago it was sufficient to sink wells of this kind to a depth of
200 ft., but as more and more wells have been sunk it has been necessary
to go to a greater depth in order to reach the lower level to which the
water has fallen. Even if the rainfall in 1922 is above the normal it is
improbable that the level of the water in these wells will rise to its usual
height, as much of the rain which would in the ordinary way filter through
to this underground lake will be absorbed by the earth which has become
very dry to a considerable depth.
Utilisation of Waste Water during the Shortage.—The City Cleansing
Surveyor utilised the waste water from the swimming baths for flushing
the streets and sewers.
The quantity of water available was:-Buckingham Palace Road,
121,000 gallons; Great Smith Street, 203,000 gallons; Marshall Street,
103,000 gallons. During the hot weather owing to the large number of
bathers, the water in each bath was changed almost every day, but in
the ordinary way each bath is emptied on an average four times a week.
There was, therefore, a considerable quantity of water available,