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No new sources of supply were instituted during 1961 and there
were no changes in the general scheme of supply but a total length of
903 yards of new mains was laid.
Samples are collected by staff of the Water Board at least five times
a week and the average chemical and bacteriological quality of the
water before and after treatment is set out in the tables at the end of
Section E of this report. In addition our own inspectors collect samples
if water for bacteriological examination.
The natural fluoride content of all four sources is variable but at
best is only one quarter of the optimum. Estimated amounts in milligrammes
per litre are 0.05-0.15 West Wickham, below 0.05-0.25
Orpington, 0.05-0.25 Shortlands and 0.2-0.25 River Thames derived
filtered water.
The water is moderately hard and is not plumbo solvent.
In the north-west of the borough the Corporation provides a
building (modernised in 1938) containing three swimming baths of
100 ft., 80 ft., and 70 ft. length. Water is supplied from a borehole well
sunk 300 feet into chalk strata. Water is cleaned by rapid pressure
filtration and chlorination with a change over period of one in four
hours duration.
As a check on the efficiency of chlorination plant, every two weeks,
and more frequently at times of excessive load, a 100 c.c. sample of
water from the exit end of the Baths is taken in the middle part of the
day and tested for B. Coli in the Laboratory of the Establishment.
Three or four times a year, full bacteriological examination at a Public
Health Laboratory is carried out. Results even at times of heaviest
bathing loads have been very satisfactory.
The West Kent Main Sewerage Board is responsible for main
sewerage and sewerage disposal.
Beckenham possesses quite a large number of Industrial and
Commercial Firms, but most of the Industries fall in the category of
" Light Industry ", and the majority come under the general heading
of Engineering.
The Industries are almost confined to two main zones of the
Borough on the northern and southern edges, and in all, employ
7,000 persons, the greatest number being in the engineering firms.
Twenty-four establishments employ 50 or more employees. The main
industries are concerned with the production of drugs, serums, vaccines,
chemical apparatus, electric tools and electric motors, electronic
equipment, compressed air equipment, including spray guns for paint
or cellulose, bronze nameplates, vitreous enamelled, perspex and plastic
signs and letters, bronze founding, metal founding, sheet metal work,
general engineering and grading of scrap metals, office accessories,
motor accessories, glues and adhesives, cellulose lacquers, leather
products, protective food packaging, dyers and cleaners and almond
nullers. Smaller firms are concerned with printing, film bag manufacture,
landscape gardening and rustic work.
Tables in Section C set out the work of inspection and supervision
of these industries.
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