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for the waterways in this low-lying area. As a result, the Lea
Valley Waterworks, on which West Ham and neighbouring
areas depend for their water supply, became flooded.
Flood water from the river first gained access during the
early hours of Saturday morning, the 15th March, and by
5.30 a.m. the works were swamped out of action. Steps were
immediately taken by the Board to provide alternative supplies
through inter-connecting mains from other districts, and though
these supplies were insufficient for the whole of the area affected
by the disaster, West Ham for once drew some advantage from
its low-lying situation in that all houses except those in a small
portion of the north-west of the Borough continued to receive
water throughout. High-storage tanks of hospitals and other
buildings were, however, above the level to which these
auxiliary supplies could reach: consequently they and the few
unfortunate houses to the north were supplied by means of
mobile tanks, which the Board had organised in large numbers.
Unfortunately there remained a strong probability that
polluted water had gained access to the mains. Appreciating
beforehand that there was some risk of flooding, the Board
had stepped-up the normal degree of chlorination of the water
as a precautionary measure, but this was not considered to
provide a sufficient margin of safety, and the public were advised
to boil all water for domestic purposes in addition. Warnings
by the B.B.C. were supplemented by warnings on the screens
in cinemas, by handbills and posters, and by loud-speaker vans,
which toured the Borough on the Saturday afternoon. On
succeeding days more detailed advice was given, and the
sanitary inspectors gave personal help to individual households
in difficulty.
Several food factories, for which a safe water supply is
essential, were at risk, and although the supply in the storage
tanks was used for the boilers, arrangements were made with
the Board for water used in the actual processing to be delivered
to the factories affected in the mobile tanks.
It was not until the 29th March that the water supply was
fully restored and the public reassured that boiling was no longer
necessary. It is a tribute to the efficiency and promptitude of
the precautions taken by the Board that no case of water-borne
disease was reported as a result of the flooding.
It is a pleasure to record that the Board and its officers
were most helpful and co-operative throughout. They took the
Medical Officers of Health of all affected areas into their confidence
at the beginning and kept them fully informed. This
is the first disaster of its kind in the 95 years since the Water
Works were built, and it is reassuring to know that extensive
works have been undertaken to prevent any recurrence.
Particulars are given hereunder of 35 samples of water
taken from the Council's private wells supplying its hospitals
situated outside the Borough, which were submitted for examination
during the year:—
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