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108
PROPOSED BATHING POOL—HACKNEY MARSHES.
Report of the Medical Officer of Health on the condition
of the water of the River Lee Navigation Stream and its suitability
for bathing purposes.
Public Health Department,
Town Hall, Hackney N.E.,
2nd January, 1908.
To the Chairman and Members
of the Public Health Committee.
Gentlemen,
The proposal to construct a bathing pool adjacent to the River
Lee, to be supplied with untreated water from that source is not
new. It may be remembered that on the 4th March, 1896, I
received a letter from Mr. Sexby, the Chief Officer to the Parks
Department of the London County Council, stating inter alia that
the Council had enlarged a part of the River Lee and constructed
two dams at this point, forming a pool, the river water being
excluded, and the pool being filled by percolating subsoil water only.
The letter went on to state, "As bathing will shortly commence I
write to inform you what the Council propose to do at this place.
It is suggested to make a convenient bridge across the island to the
bathing pool, and to erect a rough and inexpensive shelter where
bathers can undress, &c.
"I understand, however, you raised some point as to the water
supply and as to the propriety of bathing at all in Lee water. 1
think it right to acquaint you with the fact that the Council do not
propose to lay on a pure water supply, but that the pool has been
enlarged on the assumption that the bathing which has been allowed
for so many years would still be permitted. Of course, the conditions
would be considerably improved, not merely as regards
provision against danger from drowning, but also as regards the
purity of the water. The only times when Lee water will be