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106
At 5 p.m. we inspected the river Pool at Southend Lane
where it was free from tarry matter and odour. Took sample
marked No. 24.
The Inspectors are of opinion that the pollution, although
considered serious by me, on the occasion of my visit, was much
less compared with that they had seen earlier in the afternoon.
Notice was sent to the Company.
Report on samples of river water collected May 31st,
1904. Inspected with a view of acertaining if there were
pollution from products of gas manufacture.
All the samples were received sealed, and were reported to me as having
been taken on 31st May, 1904, Nos. 21, 22, 23 and 24 between 4 p.m. and
5 p.m.; and No. 25 at 6.15 p.m., at the places named.
Sample No. 21.—Water, Ravensbourne, 30yards above junction with Pool.—This
water was almost wholly free from smell, and had the colour and
appearance of the water of a "clean " river in time of flood. There
was no odour characteristic of any gas works product.
Sample No. 22.—Water, Pool, 20 yards above junction with river Ravensbourne —
This water was turbid and of rather high colour, and had distinctly the
odour of water which had been in contact with carburetted water-gas tar.
Sample No. 23.— Water, River Pool at Castlands Lane.—This water was similar
to No. 22 except that the odour of carburetted water-gas tar was rather
less intense.
Sample No. 24.—Water, River Pool, Southend Lane.—This water resembled
Nos. 22 and 23 in colour and appearance, but had only a faint odour
such as is common with river water, and no odour characteristic of
any gas works product.
Sample No. 25—River Ravensbourne taken in Molesworth Street Depot at a point
below the Mid Kent Railway Bridge.—This water was rather less turbid
and less highly coloured than Nos. 22, 23 and 24, but more turbid and
more highly coloured than No. 21. It had distinctly the odour of water
which had been in contact with carburetted water-gas tar.
General Conclusions.
My observations on this series of samples of water, having regard to
the times and places at which they are stated to have been taken lead, one to
the conclusion that the water flowing down the river Pool was being brought
into intimate contact with carburetted water-gas tar (or conceivably with
carburetted water-gas apart from tar) at some point between Southend Lane
and Castlands Lane. This tar taints, or imparts its characteristic odour, to
over one million times its volume of water, but is virtually insoluble in