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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 1968:
The supply was satisfactory both as to quality and quantity throughout 1968.
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
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.
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, 1968, was 281,140.
No houses were permanently supplied by standpipes.
No artificial fluoride was added, and where the fluoride content is indicated in the
analyses it represents the naturally occurring fluoride in the water.
The supply was derived from the following works and pumping stations:—
River Thames from Hampton, Kempton Park, Surbiton and Walton works.
Deptford, Wilmington, Darenth and Bexley wells.
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 in the following
tables.
On account of their hardness content and alkaline reaction the Board's river and
well water supplies are not considered to be 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.
Special tests for lead have been carried out during 1968 on 100 premises where a
lead supply pipe is installed. The premises were chosen to give an even distribution
of samples throughout the whole of the Board's area. Two samples were collected
from each premises; one was the first running of water standing in the lead pipe
overnight and the other was a sample of water after running the tap for a few minutes.
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