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Rivers, Streams and Watercourses
As mentioned in last year's report the principal river in the
area is the Thames, which forms the southern boundary of the
Borough.
Two tributaries of the Thames (Ingrebourne River and River
Rom) traverse the district from north to south, and in the case
of the Rom is joined by the Ravensbourne River in the southern
part of the Borough to form the Beam River.
The Ravensbourne River where it passes through Harrow
Lodge Park has been dammed to form a boating lake and during
the year work at the Eastern end of this boating lake was carried
out by the Council to remove a considerable amount of silt
which, during the course of the years, has been washed downstream.
This work was executed by contractors early in the
summer and although some local residents complained regarding
the disposal of the silt, this matter has now been satisfactorily
resolved.
It is anticipated that during next year work will be carried
out to widen this river.
Mention was made in last year's report of the steps taken
to maintain adequate water supplies to the Ford Factory. The
temporary scheme for the diversion of effluent from Riverside
Sewage Treatment Works to supplement the normal Beam River
intake has continued to operate during the year.
In connection with the scheme to maintain the industrial
water supply in the Riverside area investigation has continued
into the major scheme for the reuse of effluent from the Riverside
Works in the Purfleet Industrial Area. This envisages giving
the Riverside effluent tertiary treatment at Rainham, pumping
this to the head of the Mardyke system for further dilution by the
normal flow in this watercourse and abstracting it for industrial
use at Purfleet. For the first 12 months experimental work on the
tertiary system was carried out, but during 1969 these filters
have been supplemented with two high rate percolating filters
and the comparative results are being assessed.
A new gauging station was constructed by a direct labour
force of the Essex River Authority during the year on the River
Ingrebourne at Gaynes Park.
The Scheme of Sea Defence Works for improving the standard
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