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Subsequently the water from these Tanks is submitted to Rapid Gravity
Filtration followed by Slow Sand Filtration. Finally the water is uniformly
sterilised by means of Chlorine and Ammonia (Chloramine).
Such method of purification is in accordance with the highest standard
of practice and the finally purified water, consistently proves to be of the
highest degree of purity and therefore at all times pure and wholesome.
In addition, samples of water are frequently examined both chemically
and bacteriologically throughout the process of purification thereby ensuring
its efficient operation.
In regard to the Seven Kings, Ilford and Roding Pumping Stations,
the water from these wells is under constant chemical and bacteriological
observation and the water has consistently proved to be of the highest
degree of organic and bacterial purity and therefore at all times pure and
wholesome.
Three samples of piped water supply (South Essex Waterworks Co.)
were taken for chemical and bacteriological examination and each sample
gave a satisfactory analysis.
All new and repaired mains are chlorinated before being used.
Mr. B. W. Bryan, the Engineer to the South Essex Waterworks Co.
has very kindly supplied me with the following information regarding the
water supplied by his Company:—
'The Stour Supply Scheme, for which Parliamentary sanction was
obtained in 1935, came into supply early in 1941. It includes a large
reservoir some 4 miles long and 1 mile wide in the widest place, situated
at Abberton, about 4 miles south of Colchester, and by means of this
reservoir, the maximum capacity of which is about 5,700 million
gallons, it is possible to store large quantities of water from the River
Stour otherwise running to waste in the winter, the raw river water
being pumped through a main of about 11 miles in length from the
intake on the River at Stratford St. Mary to the Abberton Reservoir.
"After storage it receives treatment in the same manner as that
mentioned in respect of the Langham Filtration Works.
"The filtered and treated water is then pumped to Danbury
Reservoir and gravitates therefrom to a service reservoir at Herongate
near Brentwood and from thence to the Company's district.
"For some years past we have had a laboratory at our Langham
Works, our chief chemist and bacteriologist, Mr. G. U. Houghton,
M.Sc., F.I.C., together with an assistant, last year made a total of
about 3,300 chemical, bacteriological and biological examinations
and all water going into supply was reported as wholesome. Samples
of water as pumped to supply from the Langham and Layer-de-la-Haye
Stations receive bacteriological examination daily, except Sundays.
"Samples from the wells situated in our statutory area are analysed
weekly and all are likewise reported on as above; in addition we have
more recently taken several samples a week from houses in the various
parts of our supply area for bacteriological examination and they are
invariably perfectly satisfactory."
Lieut. -Col. E. F. W. Mackenzie, Director of Water Examination to
the Metropolitan Water Board has kindly supplied me with the information
that 967 samples of filtered water derived from the River Lea supplied to
the Ilford area during 1945 were submitted to chemical and bacteriological
examination and found to be pure and wholesome. All new and repaired
mains are chlorinated before being restored to use and samples of water from
them are tested bacteriologically. The water is not plumbo-solvent.
The length of mains laid in Ilford during 1945 by the South Essex
Waterworks Co. were 349 yards of 6-inch, and 891 yards of 4-inch, and by
the Metropolitan Water Board 1,172 yards of 4-inch.
There are now no public wells in existence. There are a few private
wells for commercial and domestic purposes, the latter serve the needs of
those properties (six in number) not conveniently sitated for connecting
to the main supply.