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

London County Council 1900

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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Table: Table XIII.— Average percentage purification of the Crude Sewage effected by the Various Methods of Experimental Bacterial Treatment and by the "Chemical Treatment" carried out at the Outfall Works.The amount of purification effected is calculated from the figures representing the amount of oxygen absorbed from permanganate by the crude sewage and by the final effluent from each treatment.

Table XIII.— Average percentage purification of the Crude Sewage effected by the Various Methods of Experimental Bacterial Treatment and by the "Chemical Treatment" carried out at the Outfall Works.

The amount of purification effected is calculated from the figures representing the amount of oxygen absorbed from permanganate by the crude sewage and by the final effluent from each treatment.

One filling of the bed per day or less.Two fillings of the bed per day.Three fillings of the bed per day.Four fillings of the bed per day.During the whole experiment.
By the crude liquid.By the clear liquid.By the crude liquid.By the clear liquid.By the crude liquid.By the clear liquid.By the crude liquid.By the clear liquid.By the crude liquid.By the clear liquid.
Northern Outfall.
The one-acre coke-bed—
Bacterial treatment of the "chemical" effluent1900........................91384.9
1901........................91184.2
Bacteria beds. Series I.—
Bacterial treatment of crude sewage in—
(a) Ragstone-beds (two contacts)...46.8...51.6...............49.1
(6) Coke-beds (two contacts)...64.9...61.5...............63.2
Coke-beds. Series II.—
Bacterial treatment of crude sewage in—
(a) Coarse coke-beds (two contacts)68.962.870.164.2............69.763.5
(b) Coarse and fine coke-beds (two contacts)84.277.681.472.2............82.174.6
Coke-beds. Series III.—
Bacterial treatment of settled sewage in—
(a) Fine coke-bed........................73.860.8
(b) Coarse coke-bed........................60.651.8
Chemical treatment and sedimentation, 1900........................32.8Nil
Chemical treatment and sedimentation, 1901........................25.8Nil
Southern Outfall.
Coke-beds. Series I.—
Bacterial treatment of crude sewage in—
(a) A single coke-bed...........................52.8
(b) Double coke-beds (two contacts)...........................69.3
Coke-beds. Series II.—...........................
Bacterial treatment of crude sewage in a 13-foot coke-bed...53.3...47.2...............48.1
Bacterial treatment of roughly settled sewage in a 13-foot coke-bed......62.957.852.652.2......57.264.6
Bacterial treatment of settled sewage in a 13-foot coke-bed..................56.655.756.655.7
Bacterial treatment of settled sewage in a 4-foot coke-bed (continuous flow)........................40.848.9
Bacterial treatment of settled sewage in a small tank coke-bed...........................58.7
Coke-beds. Series III.—
Bacterial treatment of settled sewage in coke-beds (average of 2 single beds)..................53.354.558.755.8
Chemical treatment and sedimentation, 1900........................25.911.7
Chemical treatment and sedimentation, 1901........................29.612.2