Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bexley]
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1. (i) Water Supply.
The water to the district is supplied by the Metropolitan
Water Board and is derived from several sources, namely,
Wilmington, Darenth, Wansunt, Crayford, Bexley and
Deptford wells, the latter mixed with Thames-derived water,
filtered at Walton. All the water is chlorinated as it leaves
the works.
Bacteriological analyses are made at least five times
per week of all supplies and, in the case of the wells, the
water is sampled both before and after chlorination. Water
derived from the River Thames is sampled at each stage of
the purification process. Tanks to provide an adequate
period of contact of the chlorine with the water are now in
operation at Wilmington, Crayford, Bexley, Deptford and
Walton.
All new and repaired mains are chlorinated before being
restored to use and samples of water from them are tested
bacteriologically.
The examination of samples of water from piped
supplies to houses at least monthly has given the following
results:—
Bacteriological.
(Minimum and maximum numbers of organisms.)
No. of organisms per c.c. capable of B. coli
growth on Agar at: presumptive
37° C. 22° C.
0-13694 0-11412 0-1 in 100 c.c.
(ii) Drainage and Sewerage.
The following foul and surface water sewers were laid
during the year:—
Lodge Hill Estate—
S.W. Sewers 1,451 lin. yds.
Foul Sewers 288 lin. yds.
Wickham Street and Chaucer Road Scheme—
S.W. Sewers 50 lin. yds.
Foul Sewers 100 lin. yds.
Willow Close—
S.W. Sewers 127 lin. yds.
Brookdale Road—
Foul Sewers 80 lin. yds.
S.W. Sewers 73 lin. yds.
Hurst Springs—
S.W. Sewers 40 lin. yds.
Thirteen cesspools were emptied a total of 37 times.
2. Rivers and Streams.
No serious case of pollution of rivers or streams was
found during the year.
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