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Broomfield Park Swimming Lake.—A sample of the water
in this lake, which is fed from two other lakes, together with
occasional road washings, and is practically stagnant, was taken on
February, 3rd 1933, and sent to the Clinical Research Association
for chemical analysis. A report was received on the 6th of the same
month setting out the results of the analysis and stating that, ' 'the
results show the water to be polluted and it cannot be regarded as
safe for swimming purposes." Following this report, instructions
were issued to take five duplicate samples from different parts of
the lake and to send those to the Clinical Research Association and
to the Royal Institute of Public Health for chemical and bacteriological
analysis. These analyses were considered by a special
Committee, who decided, after obtaining the opinion of two eminent
authorities, to recommend the Council to close the lake for
swimming. This was done, but later the lake was re-opened and
instructions were issued to take monthly samples for the purpose of
checking the condition of the water. These samples were obtained
and I reported the results to a special Public Health Committee
held in July. The following is a copy of the report (Sample No. 1
is taken from the batch of five duplicate samples referred to above,
and was selected because it was obtained from a similar position to
that of Samples 2-—6):—
SUMMARY OF ANALYSES OF SAMPLES TAKEN FROM
BROOMFIELD PARK SWIMMING LAKE.
With one exception the samples were taken from a point opposite
the 6ft. mark at a depth of approximately 3ft., and were obtained
in the morning, between 8.30 and 10 a.m., after the water had been
disturbed by the swimmers. The exception was sample No. 3,
which was taken in the early afternoon from the same point, at a
depth of approximately 2ft., the water being artificially stirred.
The atmospheric conditions prevailing at the time of taking the
samples were as follows
Sample No. 1. 11/2/33 weather fine—rain a few hours previously.
,, ,, 2. 25/4/33 weather fine—heavy rain during previous
24 hours.
,, ,, 3. 30/5/33 weather fine and warm—strong sunshine—
no rain for three days.
,, ,, 4. 22/6/33 weather fine and sunny—temperature
moderate—thundery showers during
previous few days.
,, ,, 5. 1/7/33 weather fine and sunny—temperature
warm—no rain during previous few days.
,, ,, 6. 7/7/33 weather fine and warm—no rain during
previous few days.
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