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35
ammonia never exceeded that contained in a mixture of one part of
fresh Hackney sewage and 25 parts of distilled water, and often less
Early in May an unfavourable change took place, although not
very marked, as the amount of free ammonia equalled a mixture
of one part of sewage with 15 of distilled water. Heavy rains however
ocourred in the middle of the month, so that by the end of
the month it was in a fair condition, and showed but little
effects from the reception of the Tottenham effluent. By the
middle of June the comparatively slight effect caused by the
sewage being poured in had passed away, and up to the end of
September, when the Tottenham effluent was again emptied into
it, the river was in good condition, clear, without smell, and not
containing more free ammonia than above the Tottenham inlet.
At a meeting of the Board held in October I made the
following Report, which was dated October 18th:—
" Gentlemen,
"In my last report I stated that during the month of
September the water of the River Lee was unusually good,
being fairly clear and without smell, even when kept for
some days in the laboratory. The Tottenham effluent was,
in accordance with the Act of Parliament, poured into the
river on October 1st, and soon produced, as at the same
period last year, a great change for the worse, as a sample
of water taken on the 6th at Spring Hill Bridge was
nothing like so clear as before, and was decidedly badsmelling.
A sample of the effluent was therefore taken
on the 7th, and was found free from smell, but was by
no means clear, and became slightly offensive, by keeping,
on the 8th, and much more so on the 10th and for some
days afterwards. The water of the river became worse on
the 8th, 9th, and 10th, when numerous fish were seen
floating on the water. From that time the water has steadily
improved, so that on the 13th it had but a very slight
smell, which did not increase on keeping. On the 15th
and 17th there was not any smell at the river side, although