Dr. F. St. George Mivart's report to the Local Government Board on the general sanitary circumstances and administration of the Borough, and the Rural District, of Bridgnorth.

  • Mivart, F. St. George.
Date:
1910
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Dr. F. St. George Mivart's report to the Local Government Board on the general sanitary circumstances and administration of the Borough, and the Rural District, of Bridgnorth. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    “Candy ”# pressure filters. Thence it is raised about 270 feet to the service reservoir (247,000 gallons capacity) on the top of Bromley Hill. On its way to the service reservoir, which is covered, the water passes through two wells, a receiving “ well,” and a clear “ well.” These “ wells ” have no special function now, and only remain as part of a former system of filtration by sand and gravel. From the service reservoir the water flows by gravita- tion to all parts of the borough. I am informed that the use of these Candy filters is experimental. They have been supplied on hire for six months under an agree- ment. The cost of the hire will be deducted from the purchase price if they are bought. The two filter beds formerly employed are now disused, and the space occupied by them may be utilised for the construction of a darge service reservoir if the scheme prove satisfactory. At the time of my visit the Candy filters had only been installed a few days and it was too early to speak of their efficiency. The water delivered in the borough was brownish and very slightly turbid, but this was believed to be due to the clearing out of the mains by water highly aerated. Before I left the town the appearance of the water had greatly improved. No analysis had been made since the new filtration system was adopted. The waters of the Severn, at the intake of Bridgnorth water works, cannot be regarded as free from polluting matters of dangerous sort. Within a distance of ten miles above this point, the river has already received the sewage of Ironbridge, Coal- brookdale, Broseley, Jackfield, Coalport and Madeley. About three-quarters of a mile above the intake it has also received the Worfe-brook bringing down some portion of the drainage of the village of Worfield. Reference has already been made to the entry of the Cantern brook into the river, only 50 yards above the intake of the water works, though on the opposite side. The brook water must be regarded as a highly dangerous adjunct if allowed to mingle with the water at the intake. It was asserted to me that no such mixture takes place, but that the brook water flows down close to the western shore. Though this may be so under normal circum- stances and it was manifestly so on several occasions when I visited the spot, yet the possibility of admixture, when strong west winds are blowing, cannot be overlooked. The Severn water supplied to Bridgnorth, though intended for purposes other than drinking, has undoubtedly been used to no inconsiderable extent, hitherto, for drinking, and is likely to be so used even more in the future. In view of this, and of doubt as to the degree in which the new filters may afford protection to the consumers of this water, this portion of the Bridgnorth supply must be held to constitute a danger to the community. Sewerage.—During 1854-56 the populous part of the borough was provided with sewers, which, owing to the nature of the levels, had to be laid in three separate systems. The surveyor informs me that those sewers which he has had occasion to take up # These filters were put up in October last. The Surveyor estimates their capacity of filtration as equal to 250,000 gallons in 10 hours.