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165
London Water Works Company. Not that enough water was
not pumped into the district; for, as far as one can judge, the
so-called " famine " would appear to have been the result of the
very general abolition of domestic storage cisterns in the area
supplied by the company. In the districts of the other companies,
the use of cisterns is general, if not universal. Were
it otherwise, there would probably have been a " water famine "
in some, if not in all, of those districts, more or less, if not to
the same extent as in the area supplied by the East London
Company. Cisterns should always be provided for storage of
water for ordinary domestic purposes—for cleansing, and for
the flushing of water-closets, drains, &c. But water for potable
use should be drawn direct from the main by means of a tap
on the house service-pipe. The quantity of water alleged to
have been supplied, in four hours daily, by the East London
Company—some 24 gallons per head of the population—was
reasonably sufficient for all purposes and occasions, could it
only have been properly utilized. Subject to the provision of
storage cisterns, and in the absence of excessive waste—wilful
or otherwise—such an amount would probably allow of the
continuance of a constant service. Time was, well within my
recollection, that the water was " turned-on " in this parish for
less than an hour or.ce daily. Every house being provided
with cisternage, the supply was ample, but certainly not nearly
to the amount of 24 gallons per head of the population. Take
away the cisterns and " water - famine might become
general in such an exceptional season as that of 1898, and after
prolonged deficiency in rainfall. Restore to East London
the means of domestic storage ; enforce the provisions of law
against waste, and we shall probably not again hear of a "water
famine " in that district. Any danger of this kind, however,
will be minimised in the future, it being the intention of the
Local Government Board to promote legislation to secure
inter-communication of the mains of the several companies, so