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Close liaison exists between the Medical Officer of Health and the Medical Director of the
Metropolitan Water Board and copies of all our water examination findings are sent to the
Medical Director for information.
I am indebted to the Medical Director of the Metropolitan Water Board, Dr. E. Windle Taylor,
C.B.E., M.A., M.D., D.P.H., F.C.Path., for the following information on the water supplied by the
Metropolitan Water Board in Bexley in respect of the year 1969
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 215,610.
(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—derived, also well water from Bexley, Crayford, Darenth, Eynsford,
Horton Kirby, Wansunt and Wilmington Pumping Stations.
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 are not considered to be plumbo-solvent. It should however be appreciated
that all types of water pick up varying amounts of metal from the material of
water 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.
Special tests for lead were carried out during 1968 on 100 premises where a lead supply pipe is
installed. The premises were chosen to given an even distribution of samples throughout the whole
of the Board's area. Two samples were collected from each premises; one was the first running of
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