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 London 1969
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
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The following table shows details of bacteriological examinations of both drinking water supplies and swimming bath water.
| Source of Supply | Number of samples | Number of Samples giving results above 0 per 100 mls. | Number of Samples giving plate counts above 0 Cols/ml after 24 hours at 37°C. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coliform Count | Bact. Coli (type 1) | |||
| (1) Deep Wells within the City Area | 67 | 6 | - | 7 |
| (2) Metropolitan Water Board | 35 | - | - | 5 |
| (3) Swimming Pools within the City | 41 | - | — | 4 |
| TOTAL | 143 | 6 | – | 16 |
The Metropolitan Water Board have supplied the following Report:-
1. (a) The supply was satisfactory both as to (i) quality, and (ii) quantity throughout 1969.
(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 and through to the consumer. Any sign of contamination or any other abnormality
is immediately investigated.
(c) (i) The Board has no record of the number of structurally separate dwellings supplied in
your area, but the population supplied direct according to the Registrar-General's estimates
at 30th June, 1969, was 4,226.
(ii) No houses were permanently supplied by standpipe.
(d) No artificial fluoride was added, and where the fluoride content is indicated in the analyses
it represents the naturally occurring fluoride in the water.
2. (a) The supply was derived from the following works and pumping stations;-
River Thames
New River - derived from Stoke Newington Works.
No new sources of supply were instituted and there were no changes to the general
scheme of supply in your area.
The number of samples collected and the bacteriological and chemical analyses of the
supply from the above sources after treatment are shown on the attached sheets.
(b) On account of their hardness content and alkaline reaction the Board's river and well
water supplies arenot considered to be plumbo-solvent.lt should, however.be appreciated
that all types of water pick up varying amounts of metal from the material ofwater piping,
particularly when it is newly installed; this applies to copper, zinc, iron and also to lead.
Surveys carried out between 1966 and 1968 on analyses of water from consumers' premises
confirmed this statement.
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