London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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St Giles (Camberwell) 1869

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Camberwell]

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55
“leakage; and 4th, to the admission of unfiltered water
"from the subsidence reservoirs into the pump-wells. Mr.
“Radcliffe adds, that 'it should be required absolutely of
“the Company that the communication of the reservoirs at
“Battersea with the tidal portion of the Thames by means
“of the old conduit leading to Battersea Reach, and the
"direct communication of the subsidence reservoirs with
“the pumping-wells, should be entirely cut off.'
“This Company has since improved and extended its
“filtering apparatus, and during the last four months of the
“year it has supplied perfectly clear and transparent
“water.
"As regards the turbidity of the Lambeth Company's
“water, Mr. Radcliffe reports that it is due—1st, to the
“objectionable source of supply (the intake being, like
“that of the Chelsea Company, below the junction of the
“turbid Mole with the Thames); 2nd, to insufficient pro“vision
for subsidence; and 3rd, to insufficient apparatus
"for filtration.
"No substantial improvement seems to have yet been
“made in this Company's arrangements, as the water
“delivered in December last was very turbid, and con“tained
numerous living organisms."
I remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
J. S. BBISTOWE.

In corroboration of this statement, and as having a special value in consequence of his making a systematic monthly examination of all the Metropolitan waters, I quote, without comment, from Dr. Frankland's Report, published by the Registrar-General, the following table and the foliowing remarks:—

Number of occasions when clear and transparent.Number of occasions when slightly turbid.N umber of occasions when turbid.Number of occasions when very turbid.Number of occasions when living organisms were seen.
Water from the Thames:
Chelsea73203
West Middlesex120000
Grand Junction83104
Southwark45128
Lambeth.53135
Water from other sources:
New River120000
East London6o O214
Kent120000