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19
Water supply
In am indebted to the Director of Water Examination and the Clerk
of the Metropolitan Water Board for the following report on Lewisham's
water supply.
"The supply to Lewisham during 1947 was satisfactory as
regards quantity, with the exception of short interruptions in
certain parts of the borough during the summer at a time of
exceptionally heavy demand. The shortage lasted for about a day
and during that time emergency distribution was carried out by
means of tankers.
"No standpipe supplies were provided and houses throughout
the borough received their supplies direct from the public water
mains.
"From the point of view of water supply the borough is
supplied in three zones; the low zone is supplied from Deptford
well and by Thames derived filtered water; the Eltham zone is
supplied from Wilmington, Darenth and Bexley wells with an
additional small proportion from the low zone should the occasion
arise; the Bromley zone to the south of the Borough is supplied
from Shortlands well and on occasions with additional Thames
derived filtered water.
"All the Thames derived filtered water is chlorinated as it
leaves the works. All the well water is chlorinated and any residual
chlorine should wholly or almost completely be removed before
the water leaves the works.
"Bacteriological analyses are made five times a week of all
supplies and consistently satisfactory results have been obtained.
Chemical analyses are also made at regular intervals. In the case
of the river-derived supply the water is tested bacteriologically
and chemically at all stages of purification. All new and repaired
mains are chlorinated before being restored to use and samples of
water from them are tested bacteriologically.
" None of the supplies is plumbo-solvent.
"We have no information with regard to the proportion of
the total number of dwelling-houses and population in Lewisham
which are supplied by the Board from the above mentioned sources.
All the houses are supplied directly and not by means of stand
pipes.
"The closest watch is kept for any form of contamination and
immediate action is taken if the results of the analyses are not up
to standard.
"Appended are the average results of the chemical and bacteriological
analyses of the various supplies for 1947."