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WATER SUPPLY
I am indebted to Dr. E. Windle Taylor, Director of Water Examination for the
Metropolitan Water Board, for the following report on the condition and supply of
water to the Borough during 1967:
The supply of water was satisfactory both as regards to quality and quantity
throughout the year.
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. These are returned to service only after results
arc 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.
The Board has no record of the number of structurally separate dwellings supplied
in the area, but the population supplied direct according to the Registrar-General's
estimates of 30th June, 1967, was 289,700.
No houses were permanently supplied by stand-pipe.
No fluoride was added, and where fluoride is indicated in the analyses it represents
that naturally occurring in the water.
The supply is derived from the following works and pumping stations:—
River Thames via Hampton, Kempton Park, Surbiton and Walton.
Wells: Deptford, Wilmington, Darenth and Bexley.
No new sources of supply were instituted and there were no changes to the general
scheme of supply in the area.
The number of samples collected and the bacteriological and chemical analyses of
the supply from the above sources after treatment are shown in the following tables.
The Board's river and well sources have not been considered to have a plumbosolvent
action, on account of their hardness content and alkaline reaction. It should
however, be appreciated that all types of water pick up varying amounts of metal
from piping, particularly when it is newly installed; this applies to copper, zinc, iron
and also lead.
Tests for lead have been carried out in samples of running water collected from
premises in the distribution system and I set out below the information obtained over
the period 1st January to 31st December, 1967:—

The above figures apply to the whole of the Board's area but it should be pointed
out that the general characteristics of the water are similar throughout the area so
that findings are applicable to individual Boroughs.
The regular system of examination for lead in water in domestic premises will
continue during 1968.
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