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This sample is clear and bright in appearance, just on the alkaline
side of neutrality and free from iron and other metals. The water is hard
in character but not to an excessive degree, contains no excess of mineral
constituents and it is of very satisfactory organic quality.
From the aspect of the chemical analysis, these results are indicative
of a pure and wholesome water suitable for drinking and domestic
purposes".
The following which is a summary of the bacteriological examination
of a sample submitted for analysis in March, is typical of other reports :
No coliform bacilli present in 100 ml in MacConkey incubated for
two days at 37° ; no faecal coli per 100 ml.
There is no evidence that the water is plumbo-solvent.
There are no houses in the district supplied by stand pipe only.
Fluoridation of Water Supplies. It is largely accepted that the
concentration of one part per million of fluoride in drinking water
inhibits the development of dental caries in the teeth of those consuming
the water.
Although the effects on the teeth of the consumers of greater amounts
of fluoride have been known for many years, particularly the position in
Maldon, Essex, where the natural water supply contains 5 p.p.m., most of
the pioneer investigations were made in the United States where by the
end of 1959, thirty-six millon people were consuming water to which
fluoride had been added. Although the general opinion is that fluoridation
of water has had beneficial results and that has been the reason for the
steady increase in the extent of the practice, in few areas had adequate
trials been arranged. The United Kingdom Commission on Fluoridation
reported generally in favour of the practice, though it was accepted that
what produced benefit in one area might not necessarily do so in another.
For this reason trials have been embarked on in a number of places in
this country. They started in four areas, but are being continued in only
three—Watford, Anglesey and Kilmarnock. These trials are to end in
1961. Their findings should bring further evidence to add to that of other
investigations which have fully demonstrated the beneficial effects ot
fluoridation.