Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hornsey, Borough of]
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The following further information has been extracted from Dr. Windle
Taylor's report on the examination of the London waters. All the water
supply of the Borough is river-derived and subjected to filtration and
chlorination. The Board's slow sand filters contain a bed of sand some
2 feet thick lying upon a foot or so of graded gravel which in turn is
supported by a system of underdrains, and when the filter is working the
whole bed is submerged under about 4 feet of water.
After filtration, the water is chlorinated by an automatic process
controlled by specially designed instruments which record the amount
of residual chlorine in the water after treatment and automatically
adjust the rate of chlorination. As filtered river-derived water varies
appreciably in character, automatic adjustment of the rate of chlorination
ensures that there is always sufficient chlorine to disinfect the water.
RIVERS POLLUTION
Pollution of the surface water drainage system was reported at three
points in the Borough during the year, and extensive investigations of
house connections were carried out by the district public health inspectors
and the drainage inspection assistant. Details of these areas of pollution
are as follows:
Strawberry Vale Brook
Part of the surface water drainage from the extreme north-west area of
Muswell Hill ward discharges into this brook at a point on the extreme
tip of the northern boundary.
This water collection area has been thoroughly investigated and
sources of pollution eliminated.
Mutton Brook
Part of the surface water drainage of the southern part of Muswell
Hill ward and part of Highgate ward discharges by means of two main
surface water sewers to this brook and eventually to the River Brent.
This investigation is still continuing.
Stonebridge Brook
The surface water drainage from the North Haringey ward discharges
to a surface water sewer in Green Lanes and eventually to the Stonebridge
Brook in Tottenham. This investigation is still continuing.
In addition to the above areas, inspection of the Moselle catchment
area was continued by the drainage inspection assistant. The following
figures relate to the whole of the work done in connection with rivers
pollution during the year:
31