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19
SECTION I.
SOCIAL CONDITIONS, HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION
AND VITAL STATISTICS.
The population of Croydon had for years shown a rapid
and continuous increase. The increase now seems definitely to
have ceased, at any rate temporarily. The 1931 Census gave a total
enumerated population of 233,115. The estimated population as at
the middle of 1937 was 242,300. For the middle of 1938 the population
is given as 243,400 (R..-G.).
Water.
The water supply is drawn from deep wells in the chalk.
These wells are situated at Surrey Street, Stroud Green, Waddon,
Selhurst, and Addington. A portion of the northern side of the
Borough obtains water supplies from the Metropolitan Water
Board.
A constant supply of water was maintained throughout the
year from the Corporation's own wells and the supply from the
Metropolitan Water Board.
Corporation's Wells 2,001,436,107
Metropolitan Water Board in Bulk 843,329,000
2,844,765,107 gallons.
Since the beginning of the year the Council authorised the
Medical Officer of Health to take water samples from any source
of public supply in Croydon and submit them to analysis by the
Public Health Committee's analyst. These samples are quite
independent of any samples taken by the Water Engineer and are
not examined by the same analyst. A useful check is thus obtained.
Since the appointment of a whole-time Water Engineer close
collaboration has been maintained between the Public Health
Department and the Wa.ter Department. The Medical Officer of
Health has been called upon to examine all employees of the Water
Undertaking and in certain cases detailed bacteriological examinations
in hospital have been earned out.
Rivers and Streams.
There are only small streams or ditches. These have been
kept in a good state.