View report page

15
persons will remain satisfied with it, when they know that the water distributed
at Watford and Plumstead, after being softened by Dr. Clark's process,
contains only 1½ to 2 grains of organic matter per gallon, while the total
impurity contained in these waters is respectively 8.030 and 18.280. The
water which is about to be supplied to the inhabitants of Glasgow, from Loch
Katrine, contains only 2.23 grains of impurity per gallon, in which is included
.82 of organic matter.
In consequence of the impurity of the water in the pumps in Love Court,
and Johnson's Change, the inhabitants cannot use it; and they are obliged to
obtain water for making tea, and for other culinary purposes, from their
neighbours, who are supplied with water from the Water Companies. It is
Well known that hard water is not adapted for making tea (a beverage highly
appreciated by the poor,) unless the infusion be continued for about half an hour,
and the temperature maintained near the boiling point during that period. The
loss of time, therefore, to the poor, who have no other water supply than what
is furnished by these pumps, is, in the single instance of making tea, considerable;
and the large consumption of soap, which hard water occasions, is such
that they cannot afford to use it for washiug. The parties living in the above named
localities may therefore be said to be without water, and it is to be hoped that
the Churchwardens and Overseers of parishes will, on every occasion, where
the poor are not adequately supplied with water, put in force the 27th section
of the Metropolis Water Act, to which I have already directed the attention of
the Churchwardens of seven of the largest parishes in your district.
I do not mean to say, that the water derived from these shallow wells is
at all times unwholesome, and unfit to drink; but, when it is proved that it
contains a large quantity of organic matter, it will often happen that such
matter is not oxydized, and to drink water under such circumstances would
be highly dangerous, as it is impossible to predict, without constant chemical
examination, whether the water is fitted for consumption or otherwise.
Whatever may be the quality of the water used by the inhabitants of
this district, the want of an adequate supply is greatly complained of by the
poorer classes, who, for the most part, are supplied with water from a stand-tap
in the court, from which the water flows for about half an hour daily; and the
water is sometimes turned on at such an early period of the day, that they
cannot avail themselves of it, even if they had proper receptacles for storing it
for the day's use.
In consequence of the almost universal complaint, among the poor,
of the want of water, I was induced, on the 3rd of July last, to write to the
directors of the two Water Companies which supply this district, stating the
fact, and inquiring whether it were not possible for them to give a constant
supply in all the courts, at a trifling advance of price upon the present rate of
payment. To these letters I received answers to the following effect:—If landlords
of houses and courts will, on their part, make the needful arrangements in
their houses, the directors will be ready and desirous immediately to do what
devolves on the Company in the matter. The directors further remark, that
the deficient supply of water to the poor arises from the want of proper