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49
There are 22,685 dwellings with direct connection to the Board's
mains.
A newly installed water supply to a ward in St. Alfege's Hospital
was sampled on request.
The water, drawn from a supply pipe joined to a 4" rising
main which had not been in use for a number of years, was some few
degrees warmer than the main cold water supply. The Public
Analyst reported that apart from a small amount of dissolved iron
which would appear to have been brought about by contact with
warm iron pipes, the water was of normal composition.
The Group Engineer at the hospital was advised that the water
would regain the normal characteristics of a wholesome mains supply
if sufficient water were drawn off daily to keep the supply cool
and aerated.
During the year 382 water supply certificates were granted
under Section 95 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936. Water
fittings have been amended in 69 cases and extra water supply to
a tenement house was provided.
Underground Water Supplies (Wells).—In August, 1947
at the request of the Ministry of Health, a survey of underground
water supplies was made and full particulars were given in the
Report for that year.
In all, 40 wells are listed, only 2 of which are used for the
supply of water for drinking purposes. Of the remaining 38 wells,
13 are used for commercial purposes and 25 disused.
As far as this Borough is concerned the two wells providing
drinking water are properly supervised and have shown no sign of
deterioration.
Water from one of these wells is used by the Metropolitan Water
Board to supplement the public water supply and is subjected to
daily tests by that Authority for purity and palatability. Water
from the other well is regularly tested by the commercial firm
concerned.
During September of this year a further shallow well was sunk
on the premises of the Tunnel Glucose Refineries Ltd., at Tunnel
Avenue, thus making 3 wells in all on this property.
The new well is 25 ft. deep and some 150 yards from the river
and the water, which is to be used for industrial cooling purposes
only, is extremely hard containing iron and excessive amounts of
dissolved solids and chlorides.