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101
houses, and it is on this aspect that our efforts should now be concentrated.
The division of housing work relating to existing properties
amongst different departments does not lend itself to effective progress
in this field.
For the early part of the report on water supply, I am indebted to the
Metropolitan Water Board and South Essex Waterworks Company, and the
Borough Engineer for the reports on Main Drainage and Sewerage, Refuse
Collection and Disposal and Street Cleansing.
Water Supply
The water supply of the Borough of Redbridge is provided by two
statutory undertakers, namely the Metropolitan Water Board and the
South Essex Waterworks Company and has been of satisfactory quality
and sufficient quantity during the period under review.
The principal source of supply of the former is from Lee and Thames
— derived water from Lee Bridge Works, repumped at Woodford where it
was supplemented between May and September by the interim output from
the new Coppermills Works. In addition, parts of the borough receive well
water from Wanstead Pumping Station. 1,012 samples were submitted to
chemical and/or bacteriological examination. No fluoride was added,
although there was a natural fluoride content of 0.35 milligrammes per
litre in the River Lee derived water. The supply being hard in character
is not liable to be plumbo-solvent.
Special tests for lead have been carried out during 1968 on 100
premises where a lead supply pipe is installed. The premises were
chosen to give an even distribution of samples throughout the whole of
the Board's area. Two samples were collected from each premises; one
was the first running of water standing in the lead pipe overnight and the
other was a sample of water after running the tap for a few minutes. The
results were very satisfactory and the figures within the limits of the
World Health Organisation European Standards for Drinking Water Quality.
All new and repaired mains are disinfected with chlorine, after a
predetermined period of contact the pipes are flushed out and refilled,
samples of water are then collected from these treated mains and the
mains are returned to service only after results are found to be
satisfactory.
The quality control from the laboratories is carried out by means of
daily sampling from sources of supply, through the treatment works or