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51
day may be obtained. The taking of the water should be under
regulations similar in character to those suggested for the
Thames, viz.—the first flush of floods to be rejected, and in dry
weather no water to be abstracted when the flow has run down
to a quantity hereafter to be determined.
"From Wells in the Lea Valley.—Into this part of the
case we have already gone very fully; and we need only
repeat here that in very dry years the Companies should not
calculate upon obtaining more than 40,000,000 gallons a day.
"From the Chalk on the South Side of the Thames.—
From the existing wells of the Kent Company, and others which
may be sunk within their district, we think that 27,500,000
gallons a day may safely be taken. From the tract of chalk
country in the valley of the Medway and larger area farther
eastward to the coast, a very considerable addition is also
undoubtedly procurable.
"The summary of the several quantities above stated is as
follows :—From the River Thames, 300,000,000 gallons per day;
from the River Lea, 52,500,000 gallons; from wells in the Lea
Valley, 40,000,000 gallons; from wells in the Kent Company's
district, 27,500,000 gallons—total 420,000,000 gallons, sufficient,
at 35 gallons per head per day, for a population of 12,000,000."
Conclusions.
The Commissioners then state that—
"We are strongly of opinion that the water as supplied to
the consumer in London is of a very high standard of excellence
and of purity, and that it is suitable in quality for all household
purposes. We are well aware that a certain prejudice exists
against the use of drinking water derived from the Thames and
the Lea, because these rivers are liable to pollution, however
perfect the subsequent purification, either by natural or artificial
means, may be. But, having regard to the experience of
London during the last thirty years, and to the evidence given