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141
London Companies fluctuated from 37°.8 in February,
to 62°.6 in June; whilst the temperature of the deep
well water delivered by the Kent Company, varied
only between 53°.6 in February, to 56° .3 in August.
This great uniformity of temperature which the
water of the Kent Company possesses is of no little
importance, as the water remains cool and refreshing
in summer, and is less likely to become frozen in the
service pipes in winter.
The solid matters in water consist almost wholly of
inorganic mineral substances, and to a very slight
extent of organic material. The inorganic or mineral
matters in the proportion in which they exist in the
Metropolitan waters, in no way diminish their fitness
for drinking. But the salts of lime and magnesia
which constitute the principal part of these mineral
ingredients are objectionable, both from causing that
"hardness" of the water which renders it unsuitable
for washing, and from producing incrustations and
deposits in steam and kitchen boilers and hot water
pipes. The deep well water from the chalk contains
considerably more solid mineral matter than the river
waters, and inasmuch as this chalk water is sent out in
its natural condition by the Kent Company, and by the
Tottenham Local Board of Health, these supplies contain
more solid matter than any of the others. The
Colne Valley Company on the other hand by treating
this chalk water with lime before delivery, so reduces