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12
APPENDIX. No. I.
WATER.
Contamination with lead is an accident not liable to
happen to the London water, except under occasional circumstances,
such as the erecting new leaden cisterns, or
laying down new leaden supply pipes. It were to be wished
that cast iron or slate took the place of lead for cisterns.
A sample of Grand Junction water, taken from a lately
erected cistern in the house of a physician in Dover-street,
yielded, in September 1864,—
Total solid contents Organic
per gallon. ditto. Inorganic.
14.76 1.08 13.68 Distinct traces
of lead.
A sample of water taken next day from the service pipe
before it entered the cistern, also contained traces of lead.
In order to trace the thing to its source, we applied at the
office of the Grand Junction Company, and requested the
engineer to favour us with a sample of the water taken from
the engine well at the Kew works, after filtration, and before
pumped into the mains. This was done on September 28th,
and yielded,—
Total solid contents. Organic do. Inorganic.
15.66 0.54 15.12 No trace of lead.