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25
(i) Water Supply.—The district is served by the Metropolitan Water
Board and South Essex Waterworks Co., both maintaining a constant
supply. The subject of the water supply of the Borough was dealt with at
length in the Report for 1945.
The part of Ilford within the area of the Metropolitan Water Board
is supplied with water derived from the River Lee which, after passing
through the storage reservoirs at Walthamstow, is filtered and chlorinated
at Lee Bridge works and Ferry Lane works and then pumped into supply.
An additional amount of water is supplied to this area from Wanstead
Well. Contact tanks are now in operation at these works in which the
dose of chlorine is able to exert its full effect before the water passes
into the distribution system.
Samples of the water in all stages of purification are analysed daily
at the laboratories of the Water Board.
Dr. E. Windle Taylor, Director of Water Examination of the Board
has kindly supplied me with the information that 1,444 samples of filtered
water 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 to confirm that the quality of the water is up to that normally
supplied. The water is not plurnbo-solvent.
The length of mains laid by the Metropolitan Water Board in Ilford
during 1954 was 129 yards of 4-inch.
The water to the other part of the area is supplied by the South Essex
Waterworks Co. The supply is obtained from the River Stour and from
deep wells at Mill Road, Grove Road and Roding Lane.
Mr. Hugh G. Ramsay, Engineer to the South Essex Waterworks Co.,
has kindly supplied me with the information that over 3,800 chemical
bacteriological and biological examinations were made at the Langham
laboratory, and all were reported as wholesome. The samples taken were
from wells and houses in various parts of the area, and were invariably
satisfactory. Mains were extended by the Company as follows: — 20 yards
of 12 inch, 526 yards of 6-inch, 588 yards of 4-inch and 92 yards of 3-inch.
There are now no public wells in existence. There are a few private
wells for domestic and commercial purposes.
3 samples of piped water supply (2 South Essex Waterworks Co. and
1 Metropolitan Water Board) were taken for Chemical and Bacteriological
examination, and all gave satisfactory analyses.
(ii) Drainage and Sewerage.—The Borough Engineer has kindly supplied
me with the following statement: —
Main Drainage—Sewerage Schemes and Ilford Corporation (Drainage)
Act.
Two sewer contracts which were placed in 1953 were completed
during 1954, viz., a 45-inch dia. Storm Relief Sewer in Henley Road
and a short experimental length of reconstructed soil sewer in Horns
Road. The cost of these two works was approximately £74,000.
While these schemes were under construction, the detailed scheme
for the Mayes Brook which included the culverting of the stream from
Goodmayes Park to the Marks Gate Estate and for the construction
of the Balancing Lake in Goodmayes Park, was prepared. A tender for
£211,228 5s. 11d. was accepted for this work in August 1954 and construction
began in October.
The culverting of the Mayes Brook was part of the work authorised
by the Drainage Act, the balancing lake being constructed under the