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PART 1
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
W.J. Wilson, Chief Public Health Inspector
The scope of the work of the Environmental Health Division is solely limited by the availability of staff to meet
the many diverse and pressing problems in this sphere of the Council's responsibilities. Although there was some
improvement in the staffing situation in 1970 we were still three Public Health Inspectors below the establishment
at the end of 1970. The build-up in the amount of work under the Housing Act 1969 has resulted in very heavy
pressure upon the staff, and the added work has more than outweighed the small increase in staff.
The work of inspection in environmental health is progressively more complex. Increasing use is made of
scientific instruments and close-co-operation with the Scientific Branch of the G.L.C. is maintained.
Drainage and Sewerage
There are two systems of sewerage operative in the Borough. Surface water is collected and conveyed to water
courses, rivers etc. Soil sewage is conveyed to the sewage disposal works. Occasionally it is found that the water
courses are being polluted, particularly with detergent scum and soap solution. A continuous programme of
investigation is carried out by a technical assistant who reports all suspected contraventions to the public health
inspectors. Close co-operation with the Greater London Council (Department of Public Health Engineering) is
maintained.
During the year 2,289 premises were inspected in this way and drainage corrections were requested in 63
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 full 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 1970:-
I refer to the Department of Health and Social Security Circular No. 1/71 and have pleasure in giving below
and on the attached sheets the required information as far as it relates to the Board's direct supply to your
administrative area and its several parts. You will understand that this information does not relate to private
supplies or to supplies derived from or through other Water Undertakings (if any).
1. (a) The supply was satisfactory both as to (i) quality, and (ii) quantity throughout 1970.
(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 the analytical 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) fi) 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, 1970, was
237,786.
(ii) No houses were permanently supplied by standpipe.
(d) No artificial fluoride is being added, and where the fluoride content is indicated in the analyses it
represents the naturally occurring fluoride in the water.
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