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Section C.—SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES
OF THE AREA
Water Supplies.
For the first time in the history of the Borough it is necessary
to record that the water supplied by the Metropolitan Water Board
was not satisfactory throughout the year, due to the flooding of the
Lea Bridge Pumping Station on the 15th March, 1947. For about
two months prior to this date there had been constant falls of snow
and the general temperatures had been so low as to retard thawing.
Consequently, when the thaw did set in on the 14th/l 5th March,
flood water flowed over the flood banks into the aqueduct at the
Lea Bridge Pumping Station and thence into the Works which
became completely swamped at about 5.30 a.m. to depths varying
from 1 to 3 feet; thus the whole of the Lea Bridge Works were
put out of action depriving approximately l¼ million people of their
normal water supply. The problem, therefore, facing the Metropolitan
Water Board and the local authorities concerned was a
major one.
To cope with this emergency the Metropolitan Water Board
immediately set up the distribution of water from mobile tanks
and at one time 55 lorries fitted with tanks were operating in the
Borough. After some hesitancy, only natural to the inauguration
of such a scheme, the emergency water supply of the Borough was
carried out in an exemplary manner.
Having regard to the general position in respect to the precautions
necessary, the Medical Officer of Health prepared a leaflet
for distribution throughout the district, such leaflet stressing the
need for the use of water with the utmost economy, and also
recommending that water used for drinking or cooking purposes
should be boiled, and giving other suggestions as to sanitation
generally. A conference also took place between Medical Officers
of Health of adjoining districts when it was decided that schools
should remain open, and the Divisional School Medical Officer
arranged for the supply of containers to each school in the Borough.
At the commencement of the period of emergency the Chairman
of the Public Health Committee and the Chief Sanitary
Inspector visited the District Water Engineer, whose headquarters
were at the Chingford Pumping Station, and in addition to dealing
with the general arrangements to be made for the emergency
siipply of water, also detailed priority supplies to the Hospital and
Nursing Homes in the Borough, doctors' surgeries, dispensing
chemists, bakehouses, restaurants and other essential services.
The co-operation which existed between the local officials of
the Metropolitan Water Board and the Corporation was of a very
high order, and throughout the whole of the emergency the problem
was tackled with the utmost efficiency and courtesy. The Council
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