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118
WATER SUPPLY
I am indebted to Dr. E. Windle Taylor, Director of Water Examination,
Metropolitan Water Board, for the following report on the water supplied by the
Board to the London Borough of Lambeth during the year:—
"The report relates to the Board's direct supply to the Lambeth administrative
area and its several parts. The information does not relate to private supplies and
supplies from other Water Undertakings (if any).
1. (a) The supply was satisfactory both as to (i) quality, and (ii) quantity
throughout 1970.
(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 any other abnormality
is immediately investigated.
(c) (i) The Board has no record of the number of structurally separate
dwellings supplied in your area, but the population supplied direct
according to the Registrar-General's estimates at 30th June, 1970,
was 321,260.
(ii) No houses were permanently supplied by standpipe.
(d) No artificial fluoride is being added, and where the fluoride content is
indicated in the analyses it represents the naturally occurring fluoride
in the water.
2. (a) The supply was derived from the following works and pumping stations:—
River Thames — derived water via Hampton, Walton and Surbiton, and
some welllwater from Honor Oak and Merton pumping stations.
No new sources of supply were instituted and there were no
changes to the general scheme of supply in your area.
The number of samples collected and the bacteriological and
chemical analyses of the supply from the above sources after treatment
are shown on the attached sheets.
(b) On account of their hardness content and alkaline reaction the Board's
river and well water supplies are shown to be not plumbo-solvent. It
should, however, be appreciated that all types of water pick up varying
amounts of metal from the material of water piping particularly when
it is newly installed; this applies to copper, zinc, iron and also to
lead.