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and impose regulations on the water companies, as to the capacity of
storage reservoirs, proportionate area of filtering beds, depth of
sand in same, frequency of its removal, and the rate at which the
water may be allowed to percolate.
It is quite certain that in view of the constantly-increasing
populations in the Thames and Lee valleys above the water companies
intakes, if the quality of the water supplied by the companies
to London is to maintain its " high standard of excellence and of
purity," these recommendations of the Royal Commission must in
every detail be carried into effect with as little delay as possible.
Quality of the Water Supply in Chelsea.—In the absence of snow,
heavy rains, and floods in the Thames, the quality of the water
supplied to Chelsea in 1893 was up to the average standard. It is
in many respects extremely fortunate that the rains which succeeded
the long summer drought v/ere not sufficiently heavy and continuous
to create floods in the Thames Valley, as at this period the
failure by the water companies to supply an efficiently filtered
water might have been productive of serious results to the consumers,
in view of the dissemination of the poison of Asiatic cholera
in various inland places, which was then taking place.
Constant Supply.—The Chelsea Water-works Company still
holds a place at the bottom of the list of the London water
companies in respect of the percentage of its house-supplies which
are on the constant system. It is satisfactory, however, to note
that the interposition of the London County Council has been
effective in raising during the past year the percentage of houses
with a constant supply from this Company from 40 to 45 per cent.
A fresh area in Chelsea was scheduled last autumn for a constant
supply, namely, the district bounded on the east by Marlboroughroad
and Lincoln-street, on the south by King's-road, and on the
north by Fulham-road. The area now receiving, or which will
shortly receive, a constant supply of water, is bounded on the north
by Fulham-road, on the west by the parish boundary, on the south
by the Thames, Beaufort-street, and King's-road, and on the east
by Marlborough-road and Lincoln-street. Certain isolated portions
of the east end of the parish have been given a constant supply
voluntarily by the Water Company.
CHOLERA IN ENGLAND.
During August and September Asiatic cholera was to a certain
extent prevalent in Hull and Grimbsy. The infection was thence
carried by persons incubating the disease, into certain towns and
villages in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Derbyshire, and Lincolnshire.
In none of these secondary centres was there, however, any notable
spread of the disease ; and it would appear, therefore, either that
there was no general infection of water supply or of sewers in these
places, such as would be capable of originating an extended
epidemic, or else that the prompt precautions taken in dealing with
these isolated cases was sufficient to arrest the spread of infection
from them.