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they are enabled to supply water equal in quality to the West
Middlesex Company, which for several years was at the head of the
Companies drawing their supplies from the Thames.

The organic elements consist chiefly of organic carbon, and the
maximum pollution in the river waters greatly exceeded the standard,
which is—0.1 part of organic carbon in 100,000 parts of potable
water.
A marked and undeniable advantage of spring water is its evenness
of temperature. The range of temperature of river waters is considerable,
and last year in the water of the Thames, as delivered by
five of the Companies, it amounted to 34°2 Fahr., viz., from 34°3
in January to 68°5 in August. The Lea water had a range of
34°7; the minimum being 32°9, or less than one degree above freezing
point. Thus in "eminent danger of freezing " in winter, the water
became in summer vapid and " repulsive to the palate." The Colne
Valley Company's deep well water showed a larger range of temperature
than usual, viz., of 18°2, from 40°8 in January to 59°0 in July;
the range in the Kent Company's water being only 8°4, viz., from
50°2 in December to 58°6 in August.