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REPORT OF THE CHIEF PUBLIC
HEALTH INSPECTOR
This is the Fourth Annual Report on the Environmental Health
of the London Borough of Merton and the contribution which Public
Health Inspectors are constantly making to improve standards in this
important public service.
In reviewing the work carried out during the year 1968 regard
has been had to Ministry of Health Circular 1/69 dated January, 1969.
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. 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:—
'The supply was satisfactory both as to (i) quality, and (ii)
quantity, throughout 1968.
'All new and repaired mains are disinfected with chlorine;
after a predetermined period of contact the pipes are flushed
out and refilled; samples of water are then collected from these
treated mains and the mains are returned to service only
after results are found to be satisfactory.
'The quality control from the laboratories is carried out by
means of daily sampling from sources of supply, from the
treatment works or well stations, from the distribution system,
and through to the consumer. Any sign of contamination or
any other abnormality is immediately investigated.
'(i) The Board has no record of the number of structurally
separate dwellings supplied in your area, but the population
supplied direct according to the Registrar General's estimates
at 30th June, 1968, was 153,900.
'(ii) No houses were permanently supplied by standpipe.
'No artificial fluoride is added, and where the fluoride content
is indicated in the analyses it represents the naturally
occurring fluoride in the water.
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