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Sample from Southwark and Vauxhall Water Co., taken on October 27th, 1903.
Colour in 2 ft. tube greenish yellow
Odour none
Suspended matter none
Grains per gallon
Total solid residue (120 deg. C.) 23.80
*Loss on ignition 3.85
Combined chlorine 1.25
Equal to sodium chloride 2.06
Nitrogen as Nitrates 0.l3
Nitrites nil
Saline ammonia 0.0010
Albuminoid ammonia 0.0123
Oxygen absorbed from permanganate 0.146
Hardness 15.5 degrees
º Note—Much blackening on ignition. This figure is particular high.
With the exception that this sample contains less saline ammonia, it is a worse;
water than the one analysed in July.
The figures for albuminoid ammonia and oxygen absorbed are very high, the
former being 0.l7 parts per million. This is nearly three times the normal figure
yielded by the Southwark and Vauxhall Co.'s water.
No doubt much of the organic matter present in the water is of vegetable origin
and due to the flooded condition of the Thames, but it is evident that the water has
been imperfectly purified by filtration, and in its present condition is not a fit water for
the public supply.
While the water is coloured it should be well boiled before being used for drinking.
(Signed) R. Bodmer, F.I.C.
Sample from Lambeth Co., taken on November 3rd, 1903.
Colour in 2 ft. tube greenish yellow
Odour none
Grains per gallon
Total solid residue (120 deg. C.) 21 .35
Loss on ignition 3.50
Combined chlorine 1.25
Equal to sodium chloride 2.06
Nitrogen as nitrates 0.10
Nitrites nil
Saline ammonia 0.0020
* Albuminoid ammonia 0.0135
Oxygen absorbed from permanganate 0.216
Hardness 14.2 degrees
° Note—Albuminoid ammonia = 0.l9 parts per million.
Remarks. —This is a worse water than the sample analysed in October. Albuminoid
ammonia is slightly higher, and oxygen absorbed very much higher than in the
previous analysis. The water is still much coloured, showing the presence of vegetable
matter in solution.
A certain small amount of saline ammonia is also present —twice the amount
found in October.
On igniting the total solid residue (heating to dull redness) very much blackening
was noticed.
In its present condition the water is certainly not fit for the public supply, being
most imperfectly purified. It is a most undesirable drinking water, and should not be
used without being boiled.
(Signed) R. Bodmer, F.I.C.
On July 6th ,I sent a circular letter to all the medical men practising in the Borough,
asking them if they had any cases of illness in their practices which they could not account for
and might possibly be due to the drinking of the water supplied by these companies. Out of 28
replies received, there was only one who stated he had had some cases of diarrhoea which he could
not quite account for, but the evidence inculpating the water was insufficient. Still there is no
doubt that water with the abnormal amount of vegetable matter which this contained, is more
liable to become contaminated than water which is organically pure.
The attention of the companies concerned was drawn to these reports.
Mortuary, St. Olave's.
On the amalgamation of the the three districts of Bermondsey, Rotherhithe and St.
Olave's, to form the Metropolitan Borough of Bermondsey, each district had a mortuary of its own.
Those of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe were in good condition, especially the one at Rotherhithe.
St. Olave's Mortuary, however, seemed to the Public Health Committee unsuitable and unnecessary,
and I was therefore instructed to draw up a report with a recommendation. The following
is the report: —
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