View report page

63
from impurity when it reaches the consumer, and taking all these circumstances
into consideration, I am in entire accord with the conclusions arrived at by
the Royal Commission on Metropolitan Water Supply of 1892:—" That the
" water as supplied to the consumer in London is of a very high standard of
" excellence and purity, and that it is suitable in quality for all household
" purposes. We are well aware that a certain prejudice exists against
" the use of drinking water derived from the Thames and the Lea because
" these rivers are liable to pollution, however perfect the subsequent
" purification, either by natural or artificial means, may be; but having
" regard to the experience of London during the last 30 years, and to the
" evidence given to us on the subject, we do not believe that any danger
" exists of the spread of disease by the use of this water, provided that
" there is adequate storage, and that the water is efficiently filtered before
" delivery to the consumers."
The method of obtaining a water supply in the City by means of well
sinking is by no means a new one, since an artesian well sunk at No. 20, Old
Broad Street (formerly the site of the Excise Office), is described in the
transactions of the Institute of Civil Engineers, Vol. 1, page 155, published
in 1836. This well became subsequently contaminated with polluted surface
water, and in 1908 a new boring was made on the old site.
There are now 36 wells established in the City, 14 of which were sunk
during the 71 years 18 3 6-1907, the remaining 22, or 61 per cent. of the total
number, being made in 1908-1909.
Samples of the water from all these wells were taken and submitted to
Dr. Teed for chemical analysis, and the following table gives the detailed
results of his examination.