View report page

36 Parish of St. Geori/e the Martyr, Southwark.
Abstract of Report on the Parish Water Supply for
Domestic Use.
With the aid of your inspectors, I have examined the water cisterns of the 41
"model" dwellings scattered throughout the Parish. These cisterns were, for the
most part, on the roofs, often imperfectly covered in, and in most cases within a few
feet of the openings of the soil pipe ventilators.
The latter condition renders the water liable to contamination by sewer poisons,
and in this way might sow broadcast the germs of diarrhoea, typhoid fever and
cholera.
The water in the cisterns was frequently filthy, its surface covered with smut3
from the chimneys, and in a few instances with a layer of decayed vegetable matter
two inches deep, while the sides of the cisterns were coated with slime one-third of
an inch in thickness.
Many foreign bodies were found in the tanks. It has been reported to me that a
boy was seen to wash his face and hands with soap in a cistern supplying a block.
In all necessary cases I have served owners with notices calling upon them to remedy
defects. Constant supervision, however, will be necessary to compel owners to
cleanse periodically and to keep in repair the cisterns. In private dwellings I find an
equally bad state of affairs. The cisterns are often badly placed, as, for instance,
directly over water-closets or in areas near the dust-bins.
In a few of the "model" dwellings I have induced the owners to supply water
direct from the rising main. The cisterns, periodically cleansed, supply the waterwaste
preventers in the water-closets, and in times of need only, a screw cock
attached to the head of a pipe coming from the cistern and joining the rising main,
affords a temporary and secondary supply. This system, particularly with a constant
supply, is found to work admirablv in practice.
This plan, however, cannot be applied in the case of lofty " model " dwellings
supplied by the Southwark and Vauxhall Water Company The reason for this is that
the Company fails to carry out the obligations to provide water at the pressure clearly
laid down in the "special" or private Act, which would more than reach the
highest flat in Southwark.
The surface wells in your district have been shown by analysis to furnish water
that is polluted and highly dangerous to health.
These wells have all been closed, with the following exceptions :—
(1.) A private pump in a gut manufactory. This has been padlocked, and is now
used by the foreman for trade purposes only, while Company's water has been
supplied for drinking purposes. The saline water from the well bleaches the gut
more effectually than can be done by ordinary tap water.
(2) A pump in a private yard is now padlocked, and each occupier of adjacent
stabling has been furnished with a key under strict orders to use the water for the
washing of carts and horses only. A notice board fixed above the pump states that
the water from the well is unfit for drinking and domestic purposes.
(3.) A pump connected with a trough has been padlocked and strict orders given
to the attendant to keep the trough empty, and to supply horses in special buckets.
Other troughs in the district, supplied with tap water, are liable to spread glanders.
This is a matter for the Board of Agriculture to deal with.
(4.) This pump the magistrate at Lambeth Police Court ordered to be closed
for one month, and in the meantime to be put in such a state that it should not
continue to yield impure water. From the surroundings of the well it is impossible
to fulfil this condition. The water has been proved to be highly contaminated with
sewage matter.
(5.) Analysis showed the water of this well to be contaminated, but on the case
being brought into court it was decided against the Vestry by the magistrate—Mr.
Byron—with costs.
This dangerous well is still open.