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80
For bacteriological examination 114 samples were taken,
and an average of 9.0 microbes per cub. centim. were found
present. This was slightly above the average for the whole
of the Kent Wells, but compares favourably with the number
of microbes present in 1907, viz., 14.3.
The excess of chlorine and of hardness are the worst
features of the Plumstead water, and call for further investigation
and explanation on the part of the Water Board.
Apart from the liability to dangerous pollution suggested
by the high percentage of chlorine, the excess of hardness
is a tax on the consumers in the respect of necessitating
the use of an extra amount of soap and labour for washing
purposes, and extra expense and labour from the furring of
kettles, boilers, etc.
It is satisfactory to know that this water is being kept
under careful observation, and that so far Dr. Houston
considers there is no evidence of any undesirable pollution.
Houses with Water-Supply Outside the House. At a recent
meeting of the Committee I was requested to report as to
houses in the Borough, the water-supply of which is situated
outside the house. I reported as follows and have also
included houses without a separate water-supply. "Without
a detailed examination of the whole of the houses in the
Borough it is not possible to say exactly how many houses
are unprovided with a supply inside the house, but the
Sanitary Inspectors know pretty well where these houses
are situated, and from the information I have obtained from
them I find that there is a total of 85 houses in which there
is not a separate supply of water inside the house, in the
sense that the occupiers must go outside the house in order
to obtain water.