London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Richmond upon Thames 1949

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond]

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has been treated by the method of controlled super-chlorination in
place of the ammonia-chlorine process. Free chlorine is a much
more powerful disinfectant than chloramine and there is. in addition,
a considerable saving in the cost of chemicals.
Treatment is controlled by hourly testing of the final water at
the works and by an instrument continuously recording the amount
of residual chlorine in the water after a specified period of contact.
Samples of the water are collected at all stages of purification at
least five times each week and analysed at the labaratories of the
Metropolitan Water Board.
Chemical examination was carried out on 250 samples and 980
samples were examined bacteriologically. The results of these
examinations indicated that a very high standard of chemical and
bacteriological purity was maintained throughout the year.
All new and repaired mains are disinfected with chlorine before
being restored to supply and samples of water from them are tested
to establish that its quality is up to that normally supplied.
None of the samples was plumbo solvent.
There is also a supply of raw river water delivered to allotments,
Kew Gardens, and a proportion of the residences in Richmond.
After sedimentation it is pumped to a special reservoir and is delivered
from there by gravity. This water is not fit for drinking; it is
used for gardens and for periodic flushing of sewers.

The following figures show the daily average consumption from the three sources:—

Daily Average 1948/49Consumption. 1949/50
All Richmond Wells655,765 galls.697,118 galls.
Metropolitan Water Board878,400 galls.985,507 galls.
Raw River Water191,602 galls.275,318 galls.

Two cottages connected with Teddington Lock obtain their
water from a private well. Apart from this, water fit for human
consumption is made available by piped supply to every dwelling
house in the Borough.