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214
than two-thirds of the total of the Metropolitan Water Board's
supplies.
A century and a half of preventive measures have almost
eliminated waterborne disease from our supplies but more insidious
forms of pollution from industrial effluents and man-made
chemicals are making their appearance in our rivers and tributaries.
Conventional methods of sewage treatment and water
purification will prove to be inadequate. Furthermore, the necessity
for "re-using" water for domestic purposes is not without its
hazards although, to date, these have been successfully dealt with
by the Board.
There are 72,035 inhabited dwellings in the Borough with
direct connections to the Board's mains.
On request and following satisfactory reports, 7 letters were
sent during the year in respect of properties confirmed as having
a suitable and sufficient supply of water.
I am indebted to Dr. E. Windle Taylor, Director of Water
Examination for the Metropolitan Water Board, for the following
information given in accordance with the Department of
Health and Social Security Circular 1/72, regarding the water
supplies in the Greenwich area:—
"You will understand that this information does not relate to
private supplies or to supplies derived from or through other
Water Undertakings (if any).
(1) (a) The supply was satisfactory both as to (i) quality and
(ii) quantity throughout 1971.
(b) All new and repaired mains are disinfected with chlorine;
after a predetermined period of contact the pipes are
flushed out and refilled; samples of water are then collected
from these treated mains and the mains are returned
to service only after the analytical results are
found to be satisfactory.
The quality control from these laboratories is carried out
by means of daily sampling from sources of supply, from
the treatment works or well stations, from the distribution
system, and through to the consumer. Any sign of
contamination or other abnormality is immediately investigated.