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caused by the badly purified effluent from Tottenham, which at
one time contained as much free ammonia and organic matter
in solution as ordinary sewage. The solid matters were fairly
well precipitated, but, from the state of the effluent, it was
evident that the sludge had remained in the tanks too long.
The river was also fouled by the Moselle, a brook receiving
the drainage from the Tottenham Brewery, which being poured
in without disinfection, became very offensive before reaching
the Lee. I wrote to the Engineer of the Tottenham Board and
to the Clerk of the Lee Conservancy Board, and, eventually
this drainage was carried into the Tottenham Sewers, and
therefore, during the remainder of the summer, into the
Metropolitan Board's System. The river was flushed by the
East London Water Works Co., on two occasions, with very
good results, as by scouring, the deposits of mud in the bed of
the river were mostly removed, so that nearly everywhere, at
the termination of the last flush, the natural bed of the river
could be seen.
In the early part of October the river near the Tottenham
outfall became very offensive, dark coloured, covered for some
distance with a scum, and numerous dead fish could be seen
floating on the surface. The effluent was offensive, and again
contained as much ammonia and organic matter in solution as
sewage, so that the river water close to the outfall gave results
nearly as bad as a mixture of one part of fresh sewage with
two parts of water. I wrote again to the Tottenham Engineer
on the subject, after which the nuisance diminished, and as the
cold weather came on the river ceased to be offensive, even near
the outfall. During the winter the water has been fairly clear
for such a river, without smell, and containing comparatively
little free ammonia; although on analysis I found a larger
amount of total solids, chlorine, organic matter in solution, and
ammonia than there would have been if the sewage effluent had
not been passed into it. I hope the river will not be any nuisance
during this year (1887), although it would not be safe to bathe