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where it enters the district of Hackney, and in Hackney, as mentioned
before, the effluents from two sewage farms are poured into it. The
water cannot therefore be considered to be in a very desirable state of
purity.
I wish to draw the attention of the Hackney Vestry to these facts,
because it is, I believe, a part of the scheme for the conversion of the
Hackney Marsh into a public open space, initiated by the London
County Council, to divert the Lea water on to certain parts of the
Marsh in order to form artificial pools. Unless some steps are taken
to render the Lea water freer from pollution this act will be fraught
with danger. It is obvious, that if some of the Lea branches, where the
water is somewhat shallow (although the flow is fairly good), become
offensive in hot weather, the proposed lake, where the flow will bo
reduced to a minimum, will also become offensive. Such a prospect is
anything but encouraging to those interested in the future open space
called the Hackney Marsh.
In the Preamble to the Act of Parliament which constituted the
present Lea Conservancy Board the following occurs:—
Whereas a large proportion ot the water supplied to the Metropolis is
drawn from the lliver Lee, and the Lee is extensively used for the purposes
of navigation, and for these and other reasons the preservation of the purity
of the water of the Lee and its tributaries, and the improvement of the stream
bed and banks thereof, and the maintenance and improvements of the cuts,
locks and other navigation works on the Lee are objects of great public and
local importance.
From this it is evident that one of the primary duties of the Conservators
is to prevent pollution of the River Lea.
I would suggest that in the interest of the Public Health, the
Hackney Vestry should request the Conservators to do their duty in
this respect; and if they are unwilling or unable to do that duty, the
Vestry should urge in the proper quarter the desirability of a reconstitution
of the Board of Conservators, with a view of securing thereon a
larger representation from the Hackney Parish to advance its health
interests.