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
Southall-Norwood 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southall-Norwood]
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SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA.
Water Supply.
Water is supplied to nearly the whole of the district by the South West
Suburban Water Company. The Metropolitan Water Board supplies a small
area in the southern part of the district, and the Rickmansworth and Uxbridge
Valley Water Company a small area in the northern part. The supply is
satisfactory both in quality and in quantity.
Samples are taken from time to time from the mains of the companies
supplying the district.
During the year two such samples were taken with the results indicated
in the following table. In addition a sample was taken of a well used for
drinking, and the results are put against No. 3 in the table.
Table 22.
| Date | Organisms found | Remarks | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gelatin 20 degrees for 3 days | Agar 37 degrees for 2 days | B. Coli | Streptococci | B. Welchii | |||
| 1 | 28.6.35 | 71 | 4 | 0 in 100 c.c. | 0 in 30 c.c. | 0 in 100 c.c. | Satisfactory for drinking purposes |
| 2 | 2.7.35 | 262 | 14 | 0 in 100 c.c. | 0 in 30 c.c. | 0 in 100 c.c. | Suitable for drinking |
| 3 | 24.10.35 | 3400 | 2250 | + in 2 c.c. | + in 30 c.c. | + in 50 c.c. | Not fit for drinking |
As a result of the examination of sample 3, steps were taken to prevent
the suspected contamination of the well, and meanwhile the occupants of the
house to which the well belonged were warned against drinking any of the
water without sterilisation.
Rivers and Streams.
No action was taken during the year with regard to the pollution of
rivers and streams in the area.
Drainage and Sewerage.
The Middlesex County Council's main drainage scheme is now completed
and the Council's Sewage Disposal Works were closed down during the early
part of 1936. All sewage now passes into the main sewers included in the above
scheme. Work has also been commenced upon a comprehensive scheme for
the surface water drainage of the north side of the district.
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