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(30)
The Water Question.
The shortness of the supply of water which occurred at the
hottest period of last year, was a source of very great inconvenience
to the inhabitants, and anxiety to the members of the
Vestry and your officials.
Almost without any preliminary warning, we were informed
in August last that the daily supply would be curtailed to a
few hours; this information came to us as a surprise,
especially after being told that the East London Reservoirs
were full in June. The Sanitary Committee, however, lost
no time in meeting and directing that everything that
was possible should be done to mitigate the inconvenience
which would of necessity be experienced by householders, and
also to avert as far as we might be able the consequences that
were likely to arise from insufficiently flushing the drains, etc.
The district was placarded, asking the inhabitants to flush
the drains as frequently as possible and also informing them in
the various parts of the district the probable time when the
water would be turned on.
I may say this first direction was of very great service, as
we found on inspection that it was being carried out throughout
the Hamlet. The number of stopped drains was very small,
compared with what might have been expected had the precaution
been neglected. I placed myself in communication
with the Water Company, and I think as far as they were
able they carried out my suggestions, and did what they could
to help us short of giving us more water.
Your inspectors and myself were daily inspecting large areas
of the district, and particular attention was paid to the supply
to model dwellings and schools, and to the more thickly populated
parts. We found that many of the schools were getting a
very indifferent supply, as were also the model dwellings above
the second floor.