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

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Wimbledon 1908

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]

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Examiner (Dr. Houston), appointed under the Metropolis
Water Act.
The last monthly report issued shows that chemical
analysis was made of 66 samples of raw river water, 190
samples of filtered water, and the bacteriological examination
of 66 samples of raw water and 531 samples of filtered water.
It will, therefore, be seen that anything of a harmful nature
will be promptly discovered.
Information was received that the water supply has been
withdrawn, during the year, from 37 houses for the following
reasons:— Thirty-two owing to leakages, four by request, and
one owing to arrears of rates.
In this connection it is noticeable that the Board have
rendered great assistance to Local Authorities by their instructions
to their officials, which has had the effect of minimising
the number of supplies withdrawn, and when this action has
been found necessary there has not been the delay in re-connecting
the supply as was the case until quite recently.
House Refuse.— The collection of House Refuse by the
staff of the Surveyor's Department is carried out weekly
throughout the Borough, with the exception of that portion
of the district east of Haydon's Road, where a daily collection
has been made during the past year, whilst in the summer
months the dust was also removed each day from Queen
Alexandra's Mansions and other blocks of flats.
During the year 9,694 loads of house refuse were removed
to the Durnsford Road Works and destroyed by heat in the
refuse destructor.
Sanitary Improvements: Sewers.— Amongst the works
carried out by the Borough Surveyor's Department, which
affect the sanitary condition of the Borough, the following
should be mentioned:—
Middle Level Sewer, the unsatisfactory condition of
which has been the subject of report by the Surveyor for many
years, and upon which I also reported in May, 1906, was
re-constructed from Springfield Road to Arterberry Road at
an estimated cost of £9,500, a portion of it being in 24in. iron
pipes and the remainder in 3ft. by 2ft. egg-shaped brickwork.
A further portion from Arterberry Road to Langham Road
has been constructed in 2ft. 10in. by 1ft. 11in. brickwork, at
the cost of the Devas Trustees, making in all "8,598 feet of this
main sewer re-constructed at a total cost to the Council of
about £8,820.
Woodman Sewer.— This was re-constructed with an increased
carrying capacity to cope with the development of the
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