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
Richmond upon Thames 1968
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond]
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running the tap for a few minutes. The results are set out in the accompanying
table:
| Lead content (mg/1 Pb) | Samples of water standing in lead pipe overnight | Samples of water after running the tap |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 0.01 | 10 | 37 |
| 0.01 | 31 | 57 |
| 0.02 | 21 | 4 |
| 0.03 | 8 | 1 |
| 0.04 | 9 | 0 |
| 0.05 | 5 | 0 |
| 0.06 | 5 | 0 |
| 0.07 | 4 | 1 |
| 0.08 | 1 | 0 |
| 0.09 | 3 | 0 |
| 0.10 | 1 | 0 |
| 0.12 | 1 | 0 |
| 0.16 | 1 | 0 |
| 100 premises | 100 premises |
The above results are very satisfactory and the figures are within the
limits of the World Health Organisation European Standards for Drinking
Water Quality. This states that the upper limit for lead in running water in
the supply should not be more than 0.1 mg/1 (Pb); but where water undertakings
continue to use lead piping the concentration of lead (as Pb) should
not exceed 0.3 mg/1 after 16 hours contact with the pipes."
3 (a) During the year, 78 samples of swimming bath water were taken from the
six public pools in the Borough and were submitted for bacteriological examination to
the Public Health Laboratory Service. The recommended standard is that 75% of
samples should have a colony count of less than 10 per ml., the remainder less than 100:
62 samples were satisfactory and the remaining 16 were below the recommended standard.
Repeat samples of these 16, which in most cases were only slightly below standard,
produced satisfactory results. (See page 88 — Swimming Pools).
(b) Five samples of swimming bath water were taken from school or privately
owned pools. Four were below the recommended standard. In the case of one pool, the
variation was very small and repeat samples taken from the other pools proved bacteriologically
satisfactory.
(c) Three samples of well water submitted for bacteriological examination were
satisfactory.
(d) Two samples of water were taken after illness thought to be caused by
drinking mains water. Both were bacteriologically satisfactory.
SEWERAGE 8c SEWAGE DISPOSAL
I am obliged to (a) Mr. A. S. Knolles, B.Sc., M.Inst.C.E., M.I.Mun.E., Chartered
C.E., Borough Engineer and Surveyor, and (b) Mr. L. H. Thompson, A.M.I.C.E.,
A.M.I.S.P., Regional Engineer, Greater London Council for the following reports:
"(a) Sewerage
Considerable trouble has been experienced with pumping stations over the past
year. In the case of the plant at Latchmere Lane, Ham, ancillary equipment is on order
and repairs should be completed at an early date. Preliminary arrangements are well
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