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
Barnes 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barnes]
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12
THE REPORT OF THE CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH
INSPECTOR, Mr. W. L. LEACH, IS CONTAINED
IN SECTIONS ‘C’, ‘D’ and ‘E’
SECTION ‘C’ — SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE
AREA
Water Supply
The domestic water supply has been of satisfactory hygienic
quality and adequate in quantity during the year 1957. The water
is derived from the non-tidal portion of the River Thames, stored in
the Metropolitan Water Board reservoirs at Staines, Littleton and
Walton, and filtered and chlorinated at the Hampton Works.
The Board's waters are not plumbo-solvent.
Samples are collected at each stage of purification and in the distribution
system daily. Immediate action is taken in respect of any
form of contamination or of any variation in quality. All repaired
mains are disinfected with chlorine before being returned to service.
I am indebted to Dr. Windle Taylor, Director of Water Examination to the Board, for the following information on bacteriological sampling of water supplies:—
| Type of Test | RAW WATER River Thames at Walton | WATER PASSING INTO PUBLIC SUPPLY — Hampton Works. |
|---|---|---|
| No. of samples taken | 50 | 801 |
| Plate Count per millilitre on agar 20/24 hrs. at 37°C. | Average Result 1912 | Average Result 3.7 |
| Coliform Test (Count per 100 ml) | 8465 | 99.50% Negative |
| Escherichia Coli Test (Count per 100 ml) | 4173 | 99.75% Negative |