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22
As usual, the quality of the water supplied to the
Metropolis during the year has been carefully
analysed in the laboratory of the London Hospital;
and the following are the average results :—
Average Chemical Composition of the Metropolitan
Waters for the Year 1870.
Names of Water
Companies, &c.
Total
Solid
Matter
per
gallon.
Common
Salt.
Oxygen*
required
by
Organic
Matter,
&c.
Nitrogen.
Hardness.
As
Nitrates,
&c.
As
Ammonia.
Before
Boiling
After
■Boiling
Thames Water
Companies.
Grains.
Grains.
Grains
Grains.
Grains.
Degrees.
Degree*.
Grand Junction
18.53
1.68
0.078
0.076
0.002
14.2
3.7
West Middlesex
18.43
1.71
0.053
0.095
0.001
14.0
3.7
Southwark &Vaux-
hall
18.37
1.73
0.077
0.073
0.003
14.2
3.9
Chelsea
18.67
1.69
0.085
0.080
0.002
14.3
3.8
Lambeth
19.04
1.79
0.071
0.081
0.002
14.3
3.9
Other Companies.
Kent
27.31
2.38
0 .011
0.142
0.000
20.0
5.2
New River
18.31
1.61
0.024
0.086
0 .000
14.0
3.5
East London
18.62
1.77
0.041
0.093
0 .001
14.1
3.8
So that the range in the average compositions of the
Metropolitan waters has been, in the case of the
Thames supply, from 18.37 grains of solid matter
* The amount of oxygen required to oxidise the organic matter,
nitrates, &c., is determined by a standard solution of permanganate of
potash acting for three hours; and in the case of the Metropolitan
Waters the quantity of organic matter is about eight times the amount
of oxygen required by it.