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PART I
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
W.J. Wilson, Chief Public Health Inspector
Surface Water Pollution
Present day publicity for Environmental Pollution has spotlighted work which has been in progress within the
Borough for several years. There are two systems of sewerage operative in the Borough. Surface Water is collected
and conveyed to the water courses, rivers etc. Soil sewage is conveyed to the sewage treatment 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
contraventions to the public health inspectors. Close co-operation with the Greater London Council (Department
of Engineering) is maintained.
During the year 1,146 premises were inspected in this way and drainage corrections were requested in 87
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 Examination, Metropolitan Water Board has kindly supplied the following
information regarding water supplied by the Board to Haringey during 1971
I refer to the Department of Health and Social Security Circular No. 1/72 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 derived from or through other Water Undertakings (if any).
1. (a) The supply was satisfactory both as to (i) quality and (ii) quantity throughout 1971.
(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
co???sumer. 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,
1971, was 236, 336.
(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.
2. (a) The supply was derived from the following works and pumping stations:—
The higher ground around Muswell Hill is supplied with River Thames derived water from the Thames
Valley group. The remainder of the area receives New River-derived water from the Hornsey and Stoke
Newington Works. In addition during the summer months, the area around Northumberland Park area
received well water from Park pumping station.
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
shown to be not 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.
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