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Note.—The figures shown thus () are for 1868.
One sample per month from each company was
examined. Out of the 12 samples from the West
Middlesex Mains, 10 were “clear and transparent,”
and 2 “slightly turbid,” whilst of the samples from
the Grand Junction Mains all were in the first
category. These examinations were commenced in
1868, and the improvement which has taken place
in the appearance of the water supply since that
date is commented on by Professor Frankland as
follows:—
“In that year (i.e. 1868), seven samples were so turbid
as to be highly repulsive in appearance, nine samples
were turbid, and no less than 20 slightly turbid, whereas
during the year 1894 not one of the samples of filtered
water was turbid, and only two, out of 84 examined,
slightly so.”
As regards the results of chemical analysis,
Table 23 gives the composition of the unfiltered
water from the Thames, and of the filtered waters
from the mains of the two Companies, the average
composition and the best and worst results being set
out. By comparing the two last columns with the
second it is possible to decide which Company is
most successful with its filtration. The amounts
of “organic carbon,” “organic nitrogen” may be