View report page

151
cutting-off of waste-pipes, which, from time to time, the Water
Examiner embodies in his reports. A good deal of trouble and
expense was thus incurred—with what effect it is impossible to
say; it is however to be regretted that the Companies did not go
one step further and give the "notice" to every householder, to
cut off all connections of waste-pipes of cisterns with drains, as
they had been urged to do; and thus, at no further expense to their
shareholders, and at little cost to individual householders, effect
an important sanitary reform. It would have been to their
interest; for many of the complaints respecting the water supply
are due to the connections of waste-pipes with drains, and if
this source of contamination were abolished the Companies'
water would be held in greater repute.
We are told that waste-pipes will be abolished when constant
supply is given; but for this, large portions, in fact the bulk, of the
parish, will still have long to wait. Meanwhile, Sir Francis
Bolton continues to reiterate in his reports, month after month,
sound advice which might do good if only it could be impressed
on every individual householder; and he points out that if the conditions
contained in regulation 14 were observed by consumers and
by local (i.e., nuisance or sanitary) authorities, as well as by the
Companies, many of the evils complained of would be prevented.
Compliance with the regulation, doubtless, should be enforced
upon consumers, but the Local Authorities have not the power
with which, by implication, Sir Francis Bolton credits them; and
as for the Companies, we are likely enough still to have occasion
to complain, as in former years, that, as a rule, they do not, and
will not, systematically enforce the regulation, excepting for their
own trading purposes. I fear that nothing short of an epidemic
of cholera will suffice to bring about compliance with the advice
of the Water Examiner; viz., by the exercise of the power
possessed by the Water Companies under Regulation 14.
GAS.
The subjoined Tables, based on the quarterly reports of the
Chief Gas Examiner, summarise the principal results (averages)