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
Carshalton 1963
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Carshalton]
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Section C—Sanitary Circumstances
Water Supply
With the exception of some 200 dwellings in the extreme north of
the district, the area is supplied by the Sutton District Water Company.
The Company draws its supplies from wells in the chalk sited at Woodmansterne,
Sutton and Cheam. Supply can be augmented if necessary by
the Metropolitan Water Board, the East Surrey Water Company and the
Epsom and Ewell Corporation's undertaking.
There are a few private wells at the St. Helier Hospital, the Muschamp
Road and West Street laundries, at St. Philomena's School and the
British Industrial Solvents in Mill Lane.
The Water Company is under statutory obligation to soften the
chalky water to 9° of hardness. The water is subjected to a purification
process which includes chlorination. It is not plumbo-solvent.
Control over the purity of the supply is provided by the Company's
own laboratory which is in the charge of a full time chemist/bacteriologist,
who makes daily examinations of the raw and finished waters. Tests are
also carried out for the Company by an independent firm of water chemists.
The Public Health Departments of the Councils in the distribution area
also test the supply on an agreed rota at monthly intervals.
The supply was completely wholesome and adequate throughout the year. The following information as to the tests carried out by the Company is supplied by courtesy of the Company.
| Sample | Total No. of Bacteriological Examinations | Total No. of full Chemical Analyses | No. and % of samples showing Coli-Aerogenes in 100 ml. (Excluding B.Coli 1) | No. and % of samples showing B. Coli present in 100 ml. of sample (Type 1) | Total No Coli-Aero-genes Organisms in 100 ml. of sample | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | ||||