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

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Battersea 1894

Report upon the public health and sanitary condition of the Parish of St. Mary, Battersea during the year1894

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Year.Total Quantity of Water abstracted by the Water Companies.Volume ot Discharge at Teddington Weir as guaged by the ThaniesConservancyTotal flow of River Thames Col. 2 x Col. 3.Average Annuaf rainfall on Thames Basin above intakesof the Water Companies.
Gallons.Gallons.Gallons.Inches.
188326,197,000,000659,657,000,ooo685,584,000,00028.41
188429,946,000,000330,648,000,000360,594,000,00022.90
188529,654,000,000339,130,ooo,ooo428,784,000,00029.15
18863°, 350,ocx), ooo544,786,000,000575,136,000,00031.07
188732,154,000,000390,296,000,000422,450,000,00021.32
188830,280,000,000427,656,000,000457,936,000,00028.45
188931,419,000,000437,059,ooo,ooo468,478,000,00025.64
189032,876,000,000261,916,000,000294,792,000,00022.81
189135,185,000,000472,228,000,000507,413,000,00033.31
Total278,061,000,0003,923,376,000,0004,201,437,000,000243.06
Average ot the 9 vears.30,896,000,000435,93 1, ooo, ooo466,827,000,00027.01

"During the nine years in question the rainfall averaged
only 27.01 inches as compared with 28.50 inches which Mr.
Symons gives as the mean fall of a long term upon the watershed.
We therefore increase the daily volume to 1,437,747,750
gallons, raising it in the ratio of 27.01 to 28.50 inches. This
quantity must, however, be reduced in the proportion of the
area above Teddington, viz., 3,766 square miles, to that above
the intakes, which is 3,548 square miles, thus bringing down the
nett daily quantity to 1,354,521,778 gallons. This, we believe,
is a very close approximation to the daily average flow of the
Thames down to the waterworks intakes during a long series of
years, and we will call it, in round figures, 1,350,000,000 gallons.
The average daily discharge of three consecutive dry years we
estimate at 1,120,000,000 gallons, and of the driest year at
900,000,000 gallons.
" These being the facts, we are of opinion that, by the
construction in the neighbourhood of Staines, of reservoirs of
adequate capacity, into which water shall be pumped and stored
in times of excess, to be used in times of deficiency, at least
300,000,000 gallons a day may be obtained for the supply of
London.