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SECTION B
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
WATER SUPPLY
The domestic water supply in the Borough is taken from the Metropolitan
Water Board. Samples of the water are subjected to regular routine chemical
and bacteriological examination at the Board's laboratories and the results
of these examinations are made available to the local authority
The water supply to the Borough has been satisfactory both in quality
and quantity during 1963.
The water supply to the area is a mixture of River Thames-derived and
River Lee-derived filtered water in varying and unpredictable proportions.
A summary of the results of the chemical and bacteriological analyses of the
water passing into supply from these two sources for the year 1963 is set
out on page 16.
The waters are not plumbo-solvent.
Immediate action is taken in respect of any form of contamination
revealed by inspection or analysis. All new and repaired mains are disinfected
with chlorine and the water in them is checked as to its quality
afterwards, before the structures are restored to service.
All inhabited houses are supplied with a piped water supply direct to
them, and no houses are permanently supplied by standpipe.
There have been no new sources of supply or new important extensions of
trunk mains in this area during the period under consideration, and there
were no changes in the general scheme of supply. New mains were laid to the
extent of 519 yards.
Acknowledgements are due to Dr. E. Windle Taylor, Director of Water
Examination, Metropolitan Water Board, who supplied these facts and figures,
Water supply certificates were granted in accordance with Section 95 of
the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, in 182 cases.
There are 11 private wells in the Borough, some of which are used for
industrial purposes. In no case is the water used for drinking purposes, but
by arrangement with the owners of the wells, the Metropolitan Water Board
takes samples periodically for examination so as to have some record of the
probable suitability of the water for drinking should this become necessary
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