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48
necessary funds for this purpose being provided by the Water
Companies, or such other bodies as are permitted to take water
from the rivers. And though in the above remarks we have
specially referred to the Thames, we intend our recommendations
to apply equally to the Lea and its tributaries.
Reference is made to the sewage of Hertford, and to the
state of Manifold Ditch, in the evidence of Major Lamorock
Flower and Mr. W. C. Young, of Messrs. Longmore, U. A.
Smith, and Cramp, and of Drs. Stevenson and Turner, and the
result of enquiries and visits by our Assistant Commissioner
will be found in his report. Some of our number have also
visited the locality and inspected the sewage works, and we are
of opinion that the state of matters now existing ought to be
remedied without delay. To effect this it will be necessary to
strengthen the hands of whatever authority may be entrusted in
future with the prevention of such pollution.
Our attention has been called to the traffic in gas lime,
manure, and town refuse which exists upon the Lea, as far, at
any rate, as Hertford. Large heaps of such matter are placed
on the edges of the hanks and within a few feet of the stream
itself. It is obvious that, in times of rain and flood, they
become a source of pollution which is quite unnecessary, and
might be easily avoided by the exercise of a little care and
foresight. We recommend that no collections of manure and
refuse should be allowed within a certain specified distance of
the river, or of any side stream or tributary ; and that the duly
be imposed upon some authority of seeing that this prohibition
is enforced.
As to the Treatment of the Water after Abstr\ction
from the River.
We have further to consider what steps should be adopted
to insure the proper treatment of the water that is taken from
these rivers for the supply of London. For the water that flows
down to the intakes must be subjected to certain important