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
Barking 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]
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84
For the greater part of its course it passes through
rural country, and it receives the effluents of fourteen
sewage works. As it is not fed by any substantial
springs its natural flow in dry weather is very small
and, therefore, there is practically no dilution of the
sewage effluents. This condition has been accentuated
during the long dry spell experienced this
year.
Thereafter the condition of the river on the day of inspection was as follows :—
| Source of Sample. | Impurity Figure. | Remarks. |
|---|---|---|
| Stanford Rivers | 3.5 | Reasonably clean. |
| Abridge (Bridge) | 5.8 | Not a clean river water. |
| Bridge near Chigwell Lane Station | 4.4 | do. |
| Bridge near Buckhurst Hill | 6.3 | do. |
| Woodford Bridge | 6.0 | do. |
| Below Woodford Sewage Works | 6.1 | do. |
| Eastern Avenue Bridge, Woodford | 4.7 | do. |
| Ilford Golf Links | 4.2 | do. |
| Below Wanstead Sewage Works | 4.2 | do. |
| Near Ilford Station | 4.4 | do. |