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SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
W.H. Wilson, Chief Public Health Inspector
The responsibilities of the Environmental Health Division continue to expand as new legislation
widens the functions of the Council in this field. Of particular significance was the Housing Act
1969 with its emphasis on the improvement and repair of older dwellings. The Public Health
Department became responsible to the Council for the approval of applications for Improvement
Grants and for the investigation of applications for Qualification Certificates to enable landlords
of controlled dwellings to apply to the Rent Officer for fair rents to be fixed. The Council approved
the addition to the establishment of two Public Health Inspectors and one Technical Assistant as a
consequence of the extra work arising in this connection and in respect of General Improvement
Area schemes.
The rebuilding of a slaughterhouse in the Borough is likely to lead to an increase in the amount of
meat inspection work and the Council have authorised the appointment of a Meat Inspector later in
1970 to relieve the Public Health Inspector of the routine work.
Drainage and Sewerage
There are separate soil and surface water drainage systems in the greater part of the Borough. Most
of the soil system drains to the G.L.C. works at Deephams Purification Works, Edmonton and the
surface water is discharged into the local streams and the River Lee.
Pollution, particularly with detergent scum and soap solution, of the watercourses, may arise if
unauthorised soil drainage connections are made to the surface water system or industrial processes
may lead to contaminants from floors or yards being washed down into the surface water drains.
Considerable investigation is required to trace and stop such pollution whenever it arises and to
this end a close liaison is maintained with enforcement officers of the Lee Conservancy Catchment
Board, and with the Department of Public Health Engineering of the Greater London Council.
A technical assistant experienced in plumbing and drainage work is continuously engaged in the
inspection of house drainage with a view to the detection of faults which may result in surface
water pollution, special attention being given to those areas where surface water samples indicate
that infringements may be occurring.
During the year 2,515 premises were inspected in this way and drainage corrections were requested in
47 instances. The Public Health Inspectors took any necessary action to ensure that the required
works were carried out and, where appropriate, formal action was taken under the Public Health
Act 1936.
Water Supplies
A small area on the Borough boundary containing 106 premises between Great North Road and Aylmer
Road, N.2. is supplied with water by the Lee Valley Water Company and the remainder of the Borough
receives its water from the Metropolitan Water Board. A report on the water supplied by the Lee
Valley Water Company was contained in the report of 1966.
Dr. Windle Taylor, Director of Water Examinations, Metropolitan Water Board, has kindly supplied the
following information regarding water supplied by the Board to Haringey during 1969:-
1. (a) The supply was satisfactory both as to (i) quality, and (ii) quantity throughout 1969.
(b)AII 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 241,666.
(ii) No houses were permanently supplied by standpipe.
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