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51
In all these cases the firms state that the borings were abandoned
and sealed many years ago. The reasons for the abandonments could
not be ascertained. Assuming the statements to be correct, the wells
in this category call for no comment.
(4) Other Wells.
In the Catalogue of London Wells, published by the Geological
Survey of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, there
are references to four further borings, as under:—
Formerly Orlando Jones & Co., York Road, S.W.ll. Two borings.
From enquiries made, it appears that this firm's premises were situated
on the Riverside between Steelworks Road and Chatfield Road. They
went out of business about 45 years ago, and their premises were subsequently
taken over by, and now form part of the works of Messrs.
A.D. Dawnay, Ltd., Structural Engineers, of Steelworks Road,
S.W.ll. Ah, traces of the wells appear, however, to have been lost,
and their exact location cannot be identified. It is not known whether
they were ever sealed.
Formerly Beaufoy's "Pays Bus" Works; Hanbury Road, S.W.11.
Two borings. There is no factory now existing in or near Hanbury
Road, and all trace of the location of these borings appears to have
been lost. It is not known whether they were ever sealed.
In the complete absence of information regarding the above wells,
it is, course, impossible for me to make any comment on them.
to ^av'ng reported in detail on the various wells, it remains for me
summarise and to put forward, for the consideration of the Council,
trtain observations and recommendations.
To consider first, as being of more immediate concern, the 7 wells
seel either for drinking purposes or in connection with the manufacture
! human food and drink, the position in regard to 6 of them is, at
c moment, satisfactory. I have already commented on the seventh
n. .UX s Brewery). I would, however, again emphasise the point I
J eViously made in regard to the possibility of pollution gaining access
f° wells which normally give good quality waters. This may arise not
. 'y from the development of some fault in the well itself, but also
^.0tri polluted water from some other well—perhaps some considerable
^'stance away—or from imperfectly filtered tidal water, reaching the
ater-bearing strata and thence being drawn into the good well. Pollu^°n
may be gradual in its onset, but may equally well be rapid, with
e result that, unless frequent examinations are made of the water,
th °Vtbreak some water-borne disease may be the first intimation
b ^ ^ bas occurre(I- While regular bacteriological examinations are
e'ng made of the 5 wells used for drinking, they are not in the two
Sed for the manufacture of food and drink, nor in the remaining wells
*ed for other purposes, or disused. Furthermore, even regular
rlr^Pfing can do no more than reveal that pollution is already occurring,
l( 1 f it had reached a serious degree the affected well would have to
'e dosed until the cause of the trouble could be located and remedied,
Undertaking which is likely to prove both length}' and expensive,