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During the year 143 families were rehoused leaving 395 families on the Housing Register at
the end of December 1967.
The first phase of the Middlesex Street Redevelopment was commenced. When completed the
redevelopment will provide a shopping and residential precinct of 181 flats and 38 shops.
The redevelopment of the Barbican residential area continued and the first flats due for
completion reached an advanced stage of construction. A total of 2,120 flats are planned and work
on 1,877 is in progress.
EXAMINATION OF WATER SUPPLIES AND SWIMMING BATH WATER
Regular sampling of water is carried out in the City in order to ensure its purity and potability,
and of swimming bath water to see that proper standards are maintained.
The City is unique in that many premises have their own private source of water obtained
from wells bored deep into the strata upon which the City stands. There are still 125 of these
wells in operation, all of which are kept under observation.
Samples are taken for bacteriological examination, chemical analysis and the determination
of chlorine content.
Under normal circumstances drinking water points are sampled for bacteriological examination
and include those derived from deep wells in addition to supplies from the mains of the
Metropolitan Water Board. In some cases the water is supplied through storage tanks and 102
samples were obtained from these sources.
Twenty eight samples were taken from the water supplies used in food preparation premises
Three adverse reports were received on the water used in these premises. The reasons for such
results were investigated and in addition to other work, arrangements were made for the storage
tanks to be thoroughly cleaned. Further sampling showed that the water from these particular
sources was then satisfactory.
Tests of water for the effectiveness of chlorination are made on site and of 77 such tests
all were found to be satisfactory.
Samples for chemical analysis are not taken as a routine measure but only when there are
some particular reasons indicating that such a test is desirable. Four samples were taken during
the year and analysed by Dr. Amphlett Williams, the Corporation's Public Analyst. All were
found to be satisfactory.
The swimming baths situated at the City of London Boy's School, St. Bride's Institute, St.
Paul's Choir School and the Golden Lane Swimming pool of the City Corporation were included
in the sampling routine, 21 such samples being taken during the year.
The results showed that the accepted standards were being achieved.
The present situation regarding the quality of water used in the City seems a far cry from
the one which existed in 1866, just 101 years ago. In the Annual Report for that year Dr. H.
Letherby, M.B.. M.A., writes critically of the water being used from shallow wells in the
following terms:-
"In most cases too, the constituents are remarkably indicative of the source and nature of
pollution. The wells of the public meat markets for example, as those of Newgate, Aldgate
and Leadenhall, all charged with the peculiar filth of those localities. Indeed, the water furnished
by the well in Leadenhall Market contains nearly 40 grains of common salt per gallon,
besides a large quantity of nitre and organic matter, all of which is derived from the stinking
serosity which runs from the hides exposed for sale and salted upon the public way."
It can be said with confidence that the persistent and thorough work in this sphere by the
Metropolitan Water Board and others continue to ensure a clean and wholesome supply of water
to the City.
The Metropolitan Water Board have supplied the following Report:—
1. (a) The supply was satisfactory both as to quality and quantity throughout 1967.
(b) All new and repaired mains are disinfected with chlorine, after a predetermined period of
contact the pipes are flushed out and refilled; samples of water are then collected from
these treated mains; and the mains are returned to service only after results are found to
be satisfactory.
The quality control from these laboratories is carried out by means of daily sampling from
sources of supply, from the treatment works or well stations, from the distribution system,
4.