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for domestic use. All, or nearly all, the existing water receptacles in the
poor localities are unfit for the purpose of storing water for drinking. They
should therefore be abolished, and a constant supply of water, direct from
the main, without the intervention of either butts or cisterns, should be
substituted.
Three additional water-waste preventers have been erected since my last
Report, making now 83 in this District, whereby a constant supply of water
is afforded to about 6500 poor people.
East London Water Supply.
The Board of Works having had their attention directed to a Report
made by Professor Frankland upon the condition of the water supply to the
Eastern part of the Metropolis, which. Report occasioned suck a feeling of
anxiety on the part of the Board that the Clerk was directed to write to the
Board of Trade, directing that Honourable Board's attention to the report
made by Captain Tyler in 1867, in reference to (he sufficiency and purity of
the water supply to this part of the Metropolis, and respectfully requesting
that Honourable Board to ascertain whether the alterations which the
Company had engaged to perform had been carried out, and further requesting
their attention to the Report of Professor Frankland before alluded to,
and dated January 24th, and published in the Weekly Return of the
Registrar-General, for the week ending January 22nd.
In this Report of Professor Frankland it is stated that the water
supplied by the East London Company was very turbid, owing to the
presence of muck suspended brown matter full of living organisms. Amongst
the latter vibrios were found. The Professor states that this is the first
time since he had examined the London waters microscopically that these
organisms, which are abundant in putrid sewage, have been met with in
these waters. The sample which contained these impurities was taken from
one of the Company's mains on the 10th January, and on the 19th of the
same month a second sample was obtained from the same main, which sample
was perfectly clear and transparent, but in other respects, so far as the
analysis proceeded, the matters in solution are present in substantially the
same proportion.
At a Meeting of the Board of Works held on the 4th of April, the Clerk
reported that a communication had been received by him from Captain
Tyler on the part of the Board of Trade on the subject of the Works of the
East London Water Company appointing a time when he would attend at
the Works at Old Eord to inspect them. Two members of the Board and
the Medical Officer of Health met Captain Tyler at Old Ford at the time
appointed.
The following is a copy of Captain Tyler's Report of his Inspection of
the East London Company's Works at Old Ford, made to the Board of Trade: