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[Appendix IV.
in a condition little short of chaotic. It is to he found, much of it repeated and amended, in four
groups of Acts (public and private), some purely metropolitan, others metropolitan and provincial;
some dealing with the water supply only, others with matters quite distinct therefrom, and
containing only incidental provisions as to supply. The following list shows the variety and range
of metropolitan water legislation:—
i. Public Acts, relating to whole country, such as Waterworks Clauses Acts,
ii. Do. relating to Metropolis only, such as Metropolis Water Acts,
iii. Private Acts, promoted hy the Water Companies, either independently or
conjointly. Into many of these Acts, parts of Acts included in groups i.
and ii. are incorporated,
vi. Miscellaneous Acts, such as Thames Conservancy Acts, Staines Reservoir Acts,
Public Health (London) Act, 1891, &c.
The powers of the companies to cut off the water supply appear to be limited to the
following circumstances:—
(a) Misuse and waste of water;
(b) Refusal to admit the inspecting officer; and
(c) Non-payment of rates.
Misuse and Waste of Water.
In the most general terms it is provided that when any person supplied with water " wrongfully
does or causes or permits to be done anything in contravention of the provisions" of the
Water Company's Act, "or wrongfully fails to do anything which .... ought to be done for the
prevention of the waste, misuse, undue consumption, or contamination of water," the company may
cut the water off, and not restore the supply until the requirement be fulfilled or the default made
good, and may also recover the amount of any "loss, damage, or injury" sustained.—(Section 25 of
the Metropolis Water Act, 1852.)
When the supply is intermittent, every person supplied is bound, when required by the
company so to do, to provide a cistern with proper ball-cock, &c., and to maintain the same in good
repair, to prevent the water running to waste. Failure to perform either of these duties gives the
company the power to cut off the supply until what is requisite has been done.—(Section 54 of the
Waterworks Clauses Act, 1847.)
When the supply is constant, any one causing or allowing fittings to be out of repair, " or to
be so used or contrived .... that the water supplied .... is, or is likely to be "wasted, misused,
unduly consumed, or contaminated, is liable to a penalty not exceeding £5, and the water may also
be cut off.—(Section 32 of the Metropolis Water Act, 1871.)
Refusal to Admit Inspector.
By Section 57 of the Waterworks Clauses Act, 1847, which Section is, so far as can be
ascertained, incorporated in all the Private Acts of the Water Companies, the officers of a water
company must be admitted to any house supplied by that company between the hours of nine a.m.
and four p.m., and if such officers be refused admission, or obstructed in their inspection, the
company may cut off the water supply.
Non-payment of Rates.
Certain companies have special powers for dealing with failure to pay the water-rate.
The general provisions are contained in Section 74 of the Waterworks Clauses Act of 1847, and in
Section 21 of the Waterworks Clauses Act of 1863. By the former Section if any person supplied
with water, or liable to pay the water-rate, neglect to pay such rate at the prescribed times, the
water company can cut off the supply, and recover the rate, together with expenses of cutting off,
and cost of recovery of rate. By the latter Section, "if any person refuses or neglects to pay" any