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21
The Parish Pump, near Kensington Church.
The Deep Well, Chelsea Grove, Brompton.
The Superficial Well, Chelsea Grove, Brompton.
The Artesian Well, Kensington Workhouse.
The Public Pump, in the Potteries.
The first table represents the ingredients of these waters, as actually
determined in the progress of the analyses, and in the second as they
are believed to exist, combined in the waters.
A careful perusal of the analyses of the Thames' waters will shew,
that although the river receives the sewage from towns containing
about half-a-million of inhabitants above the source of supply; such is
the enormous bulk of water flowing, that while we may regret that our
great supply of water is drawn from a source at all subject to such
contaminations, it must be admitted, that (with the excellent arrangements
adopted by the several water companies), the effect is
almost inappreciable.
The amount of organic matter is about the same as is found naturally
in the Thames, above tidal influence; and although somewhat greater
than that given in the recent report to the General Board of Health,
it is, in all probability, neither injurious in quantity nor in character.
Experience has shewn that all superficial wells in populated neighbourhoods,
are generally unfit for potable purposes, in consequence of
the amount of contamination through which the water percolates.
The pump at Chelsea Grove may be instanced as an example,—here
we have the immense amount of 103.45 grains of solid matter in a
single gallon, of which 16.59 is either organic matter capable of
entering into an active state of decomposition, or the result of previous
change. We have also so large an amount of magnesia and lime salts
as would alone render it, not only unfit for drinking, but useless for
every other purpose, except flushing.
The deep well in the same locality must be regarded as a boon to the
inhabitants.
The water is one well adapted for washing and cleansing, being but
of a few degrees of hardness, and similar in character to that drawn
from the artesian well at the workhouse.
The water from the pump in the Potteries is of the same kind ; but
unfortunately, contaminated by some drainage, so as to render it in
its present condition, unsuitable for drinking purposes.
The water of the pump, at Notting Hill, differs from the others in
this respect, that it is extremely hard before boiling, but afterwards,
becomes soft.