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The report proceeds:—
"The Plumstead Well is affected by its propinquity
"to the River Thames and the river marshes."
"The Plumstead Well, doubtless, owing to its pro"pinquity
to the River Thames and river marshes, contains
"a slight excess of chlorine."
Comparing the Plumstead Well with others, it was found to
have the highest quantity of oxidized nitrogen; the highest
capacity for abstracting oxygen from permanganate, and the
highest proportion" of chlorine and of total hardness.
The Plumstead Well, as regards presence of bacteria, was one
of the least satisfactory; containing, in one sample, coli-like
microbes in 10 c.c., but not in 1 c.c., and no flaginac B. coli in
either 10 or 100 c.c.
Four samples of the Plumstead water contained coli-like
microbes in 100 c.c., and not in 10 c.c., and in one of these, the
microbes were flaginac B. coli, i.e., microbes satisfying all the
tests which distinguish B. coli. Fifteen samples of Plumstead
water were taken.
The report concludes as follows:—
"It may be said that so far as may.be judged from
"the results of the examination of 116 samples (81 bac"teriological
and 35 chemical) of water derived from the
"foregoing twelve wells, the Kent deep well water is
" exceptionally pure, both chemically and bacteriologically."
I also received, by request, from the Clerk to the Metropolitan
Water Board, a copy of the last chemical analysis made of the
Plumstead well water, which is as follows :—
"Parts per 100,000.
"Taken on October 30th, 1906.
"Contained no ammoniacal nitrogen, 0·0024 parts
"albuminoid nitrogen, ·77 oxidised nitrogen, 0:0102 oxygen
"abstracted from permanganate, 5·64 chlorine, 35·7 total
" hardness."