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S3
SECTION 3.
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA.
24. WATER.
Water is supplied to the area by the South Essex Waterworks Company.
During the month of April, 1932, there was considerable alteration in the general
supply to the district, arising from the Company taking supplies from the River
Stour. This alteration occasioned a reversal of flow through main supply pipes,
with consequent disturbance of silt, and many complaints were received from
residents pending the complete washing-out of the mains.
It is to be noted that the total hardness of the new supplies is 31 degrees, as
compared with a hardness of 18 degrees in our previous supplies. The water is of
satisfactory purity.
25. RIVERS AND STREAMS.
The rivers and streams running through the area are controlled by the River
lioding Catchment Board, whilst the River Thames, your southern boundary, and
one of its tributaries, the River Roding, which flows through Barking, is under the
control of the Port of London.
During the months of August and September bathing took place in the tidal
limits of the River Roding. Such bathing was followed by a minor epidemic of
enteric fever.
Two samples of water obtained from different locations in the river were submitted
for examination. The bacteriologist reported on these samples as follows :—
1. This is a grossly contaminated river water, having the bacterial composition
of sewage eflluent.
2. This is a grossly contaminated river water, having the bacterial composition
of sewage eflluent. In addition, typhoid bacilli could be
isolated.
ithin the tidal limits the River Roding receives the sewage effluents from
the works of three authorities, and higher upstream the effluents from the works
of three further authorities.