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19
The relation of the Water Companies to the public has
recently been much discussed, owing to the absence of water
in houses during the severe frost of the early months of
1895, caused generally by the freezing of the service pipes,
and also in some few instances by the freezing of the main.
It would be very desirable that by future legislation the
companies should be compelled to lay their mains at such a
depth that they would be protected from frost, and that the
communication pipes, over which the companies at present
have no control, should be controlled by them.
In his report on the chemical, physical, and bacteriological
examination of water supplied by the Metropo'itan Water
Companies during 1894, Professor Frankland states that the
raw material drawn from rivers was much less favourable
for the operations of the companies than in the previous
year. The water derived chiefly from the Lea by the New
River Company was almost invariably superior to the Thamesderived
water of the West Middlesex Company.