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
Coulsdon and Purley 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Coulsdon]
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Chemical Analysis.
| Sutton and District Water Company. | East Surrey Water Company. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parts per 100,000. | Grains per Gallon. | Parts per 100,000 | Grains per Gallon. | |
| Total solids (dried at 180°C.) | 23.0 | 16.1 | 19.0 | 13.3 |
| Combined chlorine (Cl) | 1.6 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 1.1 |
| equivalent to Sodium Chloride (Na Cl) | 2.6 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 1.9 |
| Nitric nitrogen (Nitrates) | 0.74 | 0.52 | 0.70 | 0.49 |
| Nitrous nitrogen (Nitrites) | traces present | a minute trace present | ||
| Ammoniacal nitrogen | 0.0018 | 0.0013 | 0.0024 | 0.0017 |
| Albuminoid nitrogen | 0.0010 | 0.0007 | 0.0006 | 0.0004 |
| Oxygen absorbed in 4 hours at 27°C. | 0.002 | 0.001 | 0.002 | 0.001 |
| Lead or Copper | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Temporary hardness ( equivalent ) | 10.5 | 7.4 | 4.0 | 2.8 |
| Permanent hardness ( to ) | 1.9 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 1.7 |
| Total hardness ( CaC03 ) | 12.4 | 8.7 | 6.4 | 4.5 |
Bacteriological Examination.
Probable number of coliform bacilli,
MacConkey 2 days, 37°C. 0 per 100 ml. 0 per 100 ml.
There are no private wells in use in the District; all houses are provided
with a mains supply laid into the house, and there are no standpipes
for common use.
The Analyst's reports suggested that the statutory maximum limit
for hardness was exceeded by a small margin on four occasions, but the
method of estimation used exaggerated the degree of hardness, and was
not that required by statute. Forty-five samples were taken and examined
for hardness by the Department, all of which were satisfactory.
RAINFALL.
The rainfall registered by the automatic rain gauge installed at
Alderstead Heath was 30.95 inches, this being an increase of 5.53 inches
compared with the previous year. The monthly totals throughout the
year were as follows :—
January 4.29 inches
February 1.39 „
March 0.84 „
April 1.48 „
May 1.71 „
June 3.01 ,,
July 1.86 „
August 5.30 „
September 2.00 „
October 2.25 „
November 2.24 „
December 4.58 „
DRAINAGE AND SEWERAGE.
During the year 640 yards of new sewers were constructed in connection
with the development of Council Housing Estates.
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