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67
BACTERIOLOGICAL FOOD CONTROL
The report on food control would not be complete without some reference
to the bacteriological aspect. The following list of samples and specimens
were submitted for bacteriological examination to the Public Health Laboratory
Service, County Hall, whose co-operation throughout the year was greatly
appreciated.
Ice Cream 50
Server Waters 6
Milks 47
Manufactured foods 7
Imported foods 11
Suspected food poisonings 4
Complaints 2
Confectionery Cream 6
133
WATER SUPPLY
The Metropolitan Water Board is responsible for supplying water to this
area and the Director of Water Examination has kindly supplied the following
information: -
"The supply was satisfactory both as to quality and quantity throughout
1967.
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 these 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.
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, 1967, was 249, 140. No houses
were permanently supplied by standpipe.
No fluoride was added, and where the fluoride content is indicated in
the analyses it represents the naturally occurring fluoride in the water.
The supply was derived from the following works and pumping stations:-
River Thames - derived via Cricklewood and Battersea
New River - derived via Stoke Newington
No new sources of supply were instituted and there were no changes in the
general scheme of supply in your area.
The number of samples collected and the bacteriological and chemical
analyses of the supply from the above sources after treatment are shown on
Page 68.
The Board's river and well sources have not been considered to have a
plumbo-solvent action, on account of their hardness content and alkaline reaction.
It should, however, be appreciated that all types of water pick up varying amounts
of metal from piping, particularly when it is newly installed; this applies to
copper, zinc, iron and also lead. Tests for lead have been carried out in
connection with chemical analyses of samples of running water collected from
premises in the distribution system and I set out below the information obtained
over the period 1st January to 31st December, 1967:-