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
Sutton and Cheam 1946
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Sutton and Cheam]
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SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
WATER SUPPLY:- The water supply is mainly derived
from the deep wells in the chalk of the Sutton District Water
Company, situated at Sutton, Cheam and Woodmansterne. A
small area in the North Ward is supplied by the Metropolitan
Water Board.
The water from all wells of the Sutton District
Water Company is softened to 9 degrees of hardness. Chlorine
is applied in the form of chloramine as a protective measure.
Samples of the raw and treated water are examined daily by
the Company's chemist and bacteriologist in the laboratory
at the Sutton works. Samples are also examined at monthly
intervals by the Company's Consultant Analyst, and monthly
samples are examined in rotation by the District Councils in
the area of supply.
The supply from all sources has been satisfactory
in quality and quantity. All the dwelling houses have a
direct supply from the public mains.
Below is the average of monthly analyses.
| Average | |
|---|---|
| Total solid residue dried at 180° C. | 17.96 |
| Ammonia, free | 0.0084 |
| Ammonia, Albuminoid | 0.0001 |
| Nitrogen as Nitrates | 0.76 |
| Nitrogen as Nitrites | 0 |
| Oxygen absorbed in 4 hours at 27° C. | 0.0025 |
| Chlorine (in chlorides) | 1.708 |
| Hardness total (soap test) | 7.99 |
| No, of Bacteria growing on Agar per c.c. for 3 days at 20° C. | 0.539 |
| No, of Bacteria growing on Agar per c.c. for 1 day at 37° C. | 0 |
| Presence of Bacillus Coli in 100 c.c. | 0.15 |
9.