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THE HEALTH OF BARKING
SECTION D
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
(A) SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA.
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS.
The climatic conditions of the area will be remembered by residents for the
long spell of severe and cold weather which continued from 4th December, 1946,
until the end of March, 1947. During this period frost persisted, snow fell on no
less than 20 days. Fortunately the summer was sunny and the rainfall over the
rest of the year totalled 15.92 inches, compared with 24.5 inches for the previous
year. Notwithstanding the heavy snowfalls, the amount of flooding when the
warmer weather came was relatively slight, affecting some houses in the vicinity
of the Barking Park Pool and the arm of the Loxford Water.
WATER SUPPLY.
The whole of the water supplied to domestic dwellings is drawn from the main
supply of the South Essex Waterworks. All the samples submitted, monthly for
bacteriological examination and quarterly for chemical examination, have been
found to be pure and wholesome. The following is an extract of the information
forwarded to the Ministry of Health in relation to the bore holes of industrial
supplies drawn from wells :—
"Excluding the works of the Metropolitan Water Board at London Road,
there are eight wells in use situated at the industrial premises listed below,
with a total pumping capacity of 837,000 gallons per day.
In addition, there are five wells, also situated at industrial premises,
which have been sealed satisfactorily and are now out of use.
A well at the factory premises of Ibbetson and Co., River Road, is
temporarily sealed only and can produce 480,000 gallons per day.
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