[Report 1933] / Medical Officer of Health, Ilkeston Borough.

  • Ilkeston (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1933
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1933] / Medical Officer of Health, Ilkeston Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/76 (page 16)
    SECTION III. SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA. Water. The source of the water supply from the Meerbrook Sough at Whatstandwell and the recently enlarged Water Works belonging to the Ilkeston and Heanor Water Board were described in a previous report. On the 31st May, 1933, the new storage reservoir constructed by the Ilkeston Borough was opened and brought into use. The reservoir is situated on an elevated site at Marlpool at a distance of 2 miles from the town and the cost of construction was about £13,400. Its capacity is 2 million gallons so that it is capable of holding two days’ supply. The reservoir is built of reinforced concrete, the roof being supported on 106 steel pillars. The interior consists of only one compartment and the inside surface is lined with asphalte. Although it is strongly built with the object of withstanding subsidence yet it is disconcerting to have to record that this Authority has no control over the coal mining operations which may take place immediately beneath it. The Shipley Reservoir with a capacity of 795,000 gallons has recently become unserviceable owing to serious fractures in its walls due to subsidence following mining operations. It is likely to be out of use for some years. Luckily the new reservoir at Marlpool was in commission before this one had to be abandoned. The existing 14 inch supply main between Marlpool Reservoir and Shipley Reservoir was taken over as a distribution main, and a new 14 inch main was laid between the same two points 'and made to connect with the distribution system. As regards the quantity of water available this Authority is very fortunate in having a remarkably constant source of supply, There was no shortage whatever during the year. The quality remains very satisfactory. Samples of water were taken by the medical officer at intervals during the year, and the copy of a typical result of analysis is given, the sample having been taken from the new Marlpool Reservoir.