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25
EAST LONDON WATER COMPANY.
This Company, which provides the whole of our district with water,
now gives a constant supply to 100,848 houses. As a rule the water is
taken from the Lea: the Company have, however, power to draw a
certain quantity annually from the Thames, and during the months of
August and September this power was exercised, and the auxiliary
works at Sunbury and Hanworth were in use. The supply of the
Company is at all times drawn from impounding reservoirs, and the
intake is closed during floods.
During the past year one section of the filter beds has been entirely
reconstructed on a new principle, which appears to have been attended
with satisfactory results.
The set of four new filter beds and two 100-horse power pumping
engines at Lea Bridge are nearly completed, and will shortly be put
in use.
The large cast iron tank at Buckhurst Hill, capable of containing
70,000 gallons, was brought into use during the month of June. This
is kept in reserve in case of fires at night, or for when the engines are
not at work, being situated on the highest ground in the neighbourhood,
and placed at a sufficient altitude to command the surrounding
houses.
The following is an extract from Dr. Tidy's Annual Report to the
Society of Medical Officers of Health:—
East London.—The total solid matter ranged from 20.00 grs. per gallon in
October to 26.00 grs. in February ; the Nitrogen as Nitrates from 0.105 grs. in May
and July to 0.195 gr. in December. The minimum amount of oxygen needed to
oxidize the organic and other matters per gallon, was in April (0.028 gr.), and the
maximum in October (0.086 gr.).
The samples, as collected from the Company's mains, were, without exception,
perfectly bright, and free from suspended matter.
I would remark here that the year through which we have passed has been an
exceptionally trying one for the water companies—indeed, far more trying than any
of which I have had experience. The excessive rainfall has rendered the Thames
more frequently than usual thick and turbid. It was to have been expected that the
analyses would shew a larger average amount of organic matter than in previous
years, and the only thing which need surprise us is that it is not greater than results
prove it to be.
And yet notwithstanding this (and I especially direct your attention to the fact),
the death rate of London for 1879 is the lowest on record.
When I write my next report it is not unlikely that the water supply will have
passed out of the hands of the companies, and the management be vested in some