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10
SPECIAL REPORT ON THE CONDITION OF THE
RIVER RAVENSBOURNE.
TO THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE "BOARD OF WORKS
FOR THE LEWISHAM DISTRICT."
Gentlemen,
We beg to present the following report upon the state of the Poole and Ravensbourne
rivers:—
Our first sample of water was taken from a tributary of the Poole just where it is
crossed by the bridge in the Beckenham Road. The clear water had a distinct taste
and smell of sewage, and the bed of the river was covered with black sewage mud.
The stream was traced upwards for some distance along several meadows, but throughout
was contaminated largely with sewage.
Having noticed the second branch of the Poole at the Penge end of the Beckenham
Road, which presented a similar appearance to the first, we proceeded to the Green
Lanes, and examined the mouth of the culvert there discharging into this second
branch: it was pouring out an amount of sewage apparently fifteen or twenty times
greater than that of the stream water. There was an abundance of solid lumps of
excrement floating about at the junction.
We took our second sample of water from the Poole River just before it passes under
the bridge in Southend Lane. The bed of the stream was lined with sewage mud, and
the water had all the appearance of liquid sewage.
We next examined a third branch of the Poole, close to the Crystal Palace Company's
gas works at Sydenham, and running almost at right angles to them. This water smelt
strongly of sewage, but did not show any evidence of contamination with gas refuse.
We next proceeded along the course of the Poole to its outfall into the Ravensbourne.
The River Poole throughout the latter part of its extent, where it runs more or less
parallel to the railway, was in a most offensive condition, evolving bubbles of gas from
decomposition, and emitting a stench which could be recognized for a considerable distance.
We took our third sample of water from the River Ravensbourne, where it passes
under the Railway Bridge, a little above the point at which it receives the outflow of
the Poole. The Ravensbourne was here pellucid, tasteless, and inodorous.
We took our fourth sample from the Ravensbourne at about 100 yards below its
junction with the Poole. The very tortuous character of the Ravensbourne at this
part of its course served to produce a complete mingling of the two streams.
The admixture of the Poole water effected a great deterioration in the appearance of the
Ravensbourne, which, however, became less marked as we proceeded downwards.
Our fifth sample was taken from the Ravensbourne immediately below Catford Mill
and Railway Station. All five samples of water were obtained from the surfaces of the
respective streams, with the least possible disturbance of mud. After filtration through
fine paper they yielded the following results:—
Grains per Imperial Gallon.
Total. Mineral. Organic. Ammonia.
I. Poole at Beckenham Road Bridge 30.70 26.80 3.90 1.46
II. Poole at Southend Lane Bridge 38.60 33.60 5.00 1.88
III. Ravensbourne in meadow at Railway Bridge 22.00 20.40 1.60 0.00
IV. Ravensbourne after junction of Poole 23.80 21.75 2.05 0.28
V. Ravensbourne beyond Catford Mill 23.60 21.60 2.00 —
The amount of ammonia may be taken to represent the degree of contamination with
animal organic matter. From our observations and experiments we draw the following
conclusions:—
The Poole water, as shown by its appearance and the results of its analysis, is almost
entirely liquid sewage; whilst the Ravensbourne, prior to the outflow of the Poole,