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39
Disinfectants were freely distributed, and two depots were opened,
one in Bromley another at Millwall, so that with the Board's offices
(the usual place of supply), three depots for the distribution of disinfectants
were kept going.
The Water Company supplied the Board with water jars to deliver
among the poor so that water might be stored.
In order to draw water from the sub-soil, the experiment was tried
at the Bromley depot and the Recreation Ground, by driving iron
tubes through the ground until the water bearing stratum was reached
and fixing a pump to the upper end of the tube, and making what is
popularly known as " Abyssinian tube wells." The water at the
Bromley depot could not be used as it had a most offensive smell, and
the tubes were withdrawn. The water from the Recreation Ground
was clear and bright. There is no doubt that by sinking a number
of these tube wells in this riparian district which contains underground
springs, a large supply of water could be obtained in an
emergency. Dr. Thresh, in his book on " Water Supplies," states,
" In suitable localities these tube wells answer admirably, and not
only are cheaper to sink, but yield a safer supply of water than a
sunk well." He goes on to state, " Whatever the depth of the tube
well* an ordinary pump will raise the water, provided the water level
in the tube is within 25 feet of the surface."
Whilst this report is being written, on Tuesday, 21st February,
Mr. Chaplin, in introducing a Government Bill to give facilities for
the inter-communication of the metroplitan water companies' mains,
* Abyssinian tube wells are most suitable for gravel,—such as the subsoil of
the major portions of Bromley and North Poplar,—coarse sand, chalk, and similar
porous water-bearing strata, and for depths not exceeding 40 to 50 feet, though under
exceptional circumstances tubes have been driven successfully to a depth of 150 feet.
Of course these tube wells cannot be driven through rock, and they are not suitable
for obtaining water from marl, fine sand, or clay formations,—such as the subsoil of
the Isle of Dogs,—since the apertures in the perforated terminal tube are liable to
become blocked by the fine particles of which such strata are composed.