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Samples are collected by staff of the Board at least live times
a week end 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 reports In addition our own inspectors collect samples of water
for bacteriological examination.
The natural fluoride content of all sources is variable but at best
is only one quarter of the optimum,,
The water is moderately hard and is not plumbo solvent,
In the north-west cf 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 J00 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 ccc, 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 ccllulose
bronze nameplates, vitreous enamelled, perspex and plastic signs and
letters, bronze founding, metal founding, sheet metal work, general
engineering and grading of scrap metals, offico accessories, motor
accessories, glues and adhesives, cellulose lacquer leather products,
protective food packaging, dyers and cleaners and almond millers.
Smaller firms arc 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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