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Board, and London County Council on the subject, calling attention to the
serious results which would be likely to arise in consequence thereof. A
reply was received from the Water Company, "and a report made to the Vestry
on the subject on the 26th ult. In reply to a question under what authority
they acted in shutting off the constant supply, the Company wrote, stating
that the temporary cessation of the constant service is fully provided for
under the Metropolis Water Act, 1871 (Sec. 15).
Following upon this, the Local Government Board wrote, dated the 5th
inst., stating that they had been in communication with the East London
Water Works Company on the subject, which was receiving their attention.
On the 10th inst., the Water Company forwarded copy of a report
made by their Engineer dated 2nd inst., upon the causes necessitating the
shutting off water at night in portions of the Company's District, to the
effect that it is due to the drought last year having depleted to a very
considerable extent, the springs ; and also that there is a great waste of water
as even with the intermittent service, the Company is giving 249 gallons per
tenement daily, an amount fully equal to the average of all the Metropolitan
Companies. The report concludes by saying that this shows an ample supply
has been, and is being distributed, and that if the tenants of property would
turn off their taps when they had drawn off what they require, the full and
constant service would be immediately reverted to.
On the 9th inst. your Committee communicated with the Water
Company, asking whether in the circumstances the Directors would reduce
the number of hours the water is shut off, say from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.,
instead of between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., as at present, and that
they would seriously consider the question of reverting to the constant
service at the earliest possible opportunity. On the 10th inst. a reply was
received stating that the request would be duly considered, at the same time
adverting to the report of the Company's Engineer, and emphasizing the
statement, that the present supply of water is more than ample for
all reasonable domestic requirements, and that with the slightest care on the
consumers' part the constant service could be reverted to at once, and further
pointing out that if storage cisterns were fitted to the houses no real
inconvenience would arise from the shutting down of the water for certain
hours out of the twenty-four, which has now become an absolute necessity.
Another communication was received from the Secretary to the Water
Company, on the 15th inst. stating that after consulting with the Company's
Chief Engineer, instructions had been given to delay shutting down the
mains until from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., as your Committee requested. The
letter further stated that the Directors were seriously considering the whole
question, and that they will order the resumption of the constant service at
the earliest possible moment; at the same time asking the Local Authorities
to aid them in every way in checking the waste of water, as they are pumping
into the district at the present time twice the quantity of water that can by
any possible means be fairly used.
Your Committee do not think anything more can be done in the matter
at present. Instructions have been given to the Sanitary Inspectors to