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
Orpington 1945
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Orpington]
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| No. of houses connected to the sewer | No. of houses not connected to sewers | No. of houses not provided with a piped water supply | No. of wells still in use for the purpose of domestic supply |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12,454 | 2960 | 351 | 6 |
| W.C.'s | Pail or Pan Closets | Midden Privies | Cesspools | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of | No. of houses connected | |||
| 15,125 | 294 | 13 | 2213 | |
| 2643 | ||||
WATER SUPPLY.
The mains of the Metropolitan Water Board supply the
greater portion of the District. In some outlying parts, however,
water is obtained from deep wells and from rain water collected
from the roofs of houses and stored in tanks.
The supply of water has been satisfactory both as regards
quality and quantity. Bacteriological examinations of the water
are made monthly, an average of four samples being collected
each month.
No contamination of the water was discovered during the
year, and there does not appear to be any risk of plumbo-solvent
action.
During the year 48 bacteriological samples of water were
examined, and all proved to be satisfactory. Three chemical
analyses of rain water used for drinking purposes were made,
of which one proved to be of excellent quality. In the other
two cases one proved to be of fair quality and the other of a
poor nature, and it was advised that the water be boiled before
use.
PUBLIC CLEANSING.
The collection of house refuse throughout the District is
by direct labour.
Owing to the shortage of labour, the removal of house
refuse has presented difficulty. Although collection has not been
carried out at pre-war frequency, the service has been maintained
throughout the District, and a slight improvement had
been effected at the end of the year.