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54
chlorine is reduced to that of the average of the Kent Waters.
The average amount of chlorine in the Kent waters is less than
3 per 100,000, and last year when the chlorine in the Plumstead
Well water was 6 per 100,000, this was far the highest proportion
of any of the Kent waters analysed. Further, the
chlorine in the water of the well supplying Plumstead Baths,
which is only half a mile from the Plumstead Well, was found
to contain only 31 parts per 100,000. It is obvious, therefore,
that there is no satisfaction to the people of this Borough to
know that their water still contains 6 narts of chlorine per
100,000. As regards the hardness of the water, this also cannot
be said to be absolutely favourabe to health, but granting
that the injury to health by a hard water is slight, it is economically
very prejudicial. The fact that the Plumstead well water
contains 30 per cent, more total hardness than the other Kent
waters, means that 30 per cent more soap is required for all
washing purposes. This obviously involves a very considerable
pecuniary loss to the inhabitants. Although the Director
assured the Committee that in all other respects the water was
satisfactory, no evidence is given of this. Last year the Plumstead
water contained more than the average amount of
ammoniacal nitrogen, albumenoid nitrogen, oxidised nitrogen
and oxygen absorbed from permanganate, and presumably this
condition is still maintained. I am decidedly of opinion that
the Borough Council should not be satisfied with the condition
of the water which is mainly supplied in the Borough. It
should continue to press the Water Board to close the Plumstead
Well, unless it can be made to supply water of as good
quality as the average of the other Kent Wells,
The Plumstead Well yields far the hardest water supplied in
the Metropolis. A report on a proposal to soften the Kent
water was presented in November, 1907, to the Public Health
and Housing Committee, and printed in the Council's minutes.