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8
(a) Bactoriological Examinations.
Regular bacteriological examinations were made of the raw
water going into supply after treatment.
250 raw water samples and 902 treated water samples were
thus examined bacteriologically during the year by the Chemist
and Bacteriologist on the staff of the Water Undertaking. In
addition 20 samples of raw water and 78 samples of treated water
were subjected to bacteriological examination by the Consultant
Bacteriologist to the Water Undertaking. Further samples were
submitted by the Medical Officer of Health for examination by
the Public Analyst.
The results of the bacteriological examination of the raw
waters were typical of waters pumped from the chalk, some of
them shewing the normal deterioration in quality which occurs
after heavy rain. In all cases the examinations shewed that the
raw water was suitable for treatment.
The bacteriological examinations of the treated waters shewed
that these waters were of uniformly excellent quality.
(b) Chemical Analyses.
The arrangements for chemical analyses are similar to those
for bacteriological examinations. The total numbers of samples
analysed in the Water Department's laboratory and by the
Consultant were 82 of raw waters and 137 of treated waters going
into supply.
The results of the chemical analyses were uniformly satisfactory.
The waters are not liable to have plumbo-solvent action.
No cases of contamination of any of the sources of supply
arose during the year.
The whole of the population and dwelling-houses within the
area of supply are supplied from public water mains direct to the
houses.
During 1946 the total number of samples taken by the Public
Health Department was as follows: —
For bacteriological examination 61
For chemical examination 61
All these sample-; were taken direct from consumers' taps.