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52
Water.
Paddington is supplied with water obtained from
the Thames by the Grand Junction and West Middlesex
Companies. During the year 1879 the
average daily supply of water to the inhabitants
of London by the eight metropolitan companies
was 134 millions of gallons. Whilst the quantity
was greatly in excess of what is required, the quality
of the river water was frequently very objectionable.
The waters of the Thames and the Lea, even after
efficient filtration by the various companies, were
only in some measure fit for dietetic purposes during
the months of April, November, and December.
Only once since 1868 has the Thames water been so
much polluted by organic matters as it was in the
year 1879. The Thames was often in high flood
even in summer, and much filthy matter from
sewers, cesspools, and cultivated fields was swept
into the river. No practicable amount of storage
could have prevented the supply of flood water to
London during the past two years. The Lea water
maintained its superiority over that taken from the
Thames, but was quite unfit for dietetic use during
seven months of the year. Of the deep-well waters,
that supplied by the Colne Valley Company was the
best; of the Lea water, that sent out by the New
River Company was the best, and of that taken from
the Thames, the best average supplies were furnished