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REPORT OF THE CHIEF PUBLIC
HEALTH INSPECTOR
The surroundings in which we live can have a profound effect
upon our health and development. The elimination of unhealthy
conditions is what is known today as Environmental Health. Fundamentally
the function of the Public Health Inspector is to secure
compliance with legislation designed to protect and promote the health
of the community. Environmental Health closely concerns the dayto-day
life of the people, and it is a service which must be provided
by the local authority and its officers who are in touch with the
problems and needs of the people living in or visiting the Borough.
This part of the Annual Report deals therefore with this Environmental
Health Service, and shows the efforts made to maintain
an efficient service, despite continued staff shortages and staff changes.
In reviewing the work of the Public Health Inspectorate during
1966, regard has been had to Ministry of Health Circular 1 /67 dated
January, 1967. The statistics cover the year ended 31st December,
1966, being the first complete calendar year of the London Borough
of Merton.
SERVICES UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACTS
Water Supply
The Metropolitan Water Board and the Sutton District Water
Company are responsible for the supply of water to the Borough and
regular periodic examinations are made by these undertakings. Reports
on examinations are also exchanged with adjoining Local Authorities
who are supplied by the Sutton District Water Company.
With a few exceptions all the dwelling houses within the
Borough are supplied from public water mains direct to the
houses but the actual number of houses is not available. A
number of industrial premises have an additional supply of water from
their own deep wells. There are seven caravan yards within the
Borough, each with a stand-pipe supplying mains water.
I am indebted to the Director of Water Examination, Metropolitan
Water Board for the following information so far as the supply
from that authority is concerned:—
(a) The supply was satisfactory both as to quality and quantity
throughout 1966.
(b) The supply was derived from the River Thames through the
Southern Group of pumping stations, and no new sources
of supply were instituted.
1,825 samples were taken for bacteriological examination,
and 156 samples for chemical analysis. No fluoride was added,
and where fluoride content occurred it represented the
naturally occurring fluoride in the water.
(c) The supply being hard in character is not liable to be
plumbo-solvent.
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