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Water Supply
The South Essex Water Works Co. who supply the whole of
the Borough amalgamated with the Southend Waterworks Co. on
1st July, 1970 under the terms of the Essex Water Order, 1970,
and the joint company is now known as the Essex Water Company.
At the end of the year arrangements were proceeding for the transfer
on 1st April, 1971 of the other water undertakings concerned
in the Essex Water Order, namely those of the Maldon Corporation,
the Bumham-on-Crouch and With am Urban District Councils and
the Chelmsford & Maldon Rural District Councils. A decision
from the Secretary of State for the Environment is awaited in connection
with the further Order which has been deposited for the
transfer of the water undertaking of the Chelmsford Corporation.
The water supply of the whole of the Borough has been
satisfactory in quality and quantity. No action has been necessary
in respect of any form of contamination.
The number of dwelling houses supplied as at 31st December,
1970 was 85,610—an increase of 3,530 on last year—and the
population as obtained from the Registrar General was 252,130.
I am not aware of any dwellings being supplied with water from
standpipes.
The Essex Water Company did not make frequent fluorine
determinations during the year, but on the basis of past results
the fluorine content of the supplies is 0.25 p.p.m.
51 samples were taken by the Department from the main
supply during the year, of which 40 were submitted for chemical
and 11 for bacteriological examination. In each case a satisfactory
report was received.
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