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WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT.
41
But for the fact that the cost of maintenance is trifling, averaging about £50 per annum,
and the Council is under statutory obligation to provide a shelter, a suggestion would have
been put forward to give up the premises.
Water Supply.-The year 1902 will be memorable for the passing of the Metropolitan
Water Act, which is to effect the transfer of the various undertakings from the Water Companies
to the Water Board. The Act is an attempt to place the inhabitants of "Water" London in a
position similar to that of many provincial townships. "Water" London being an aggregation
of many cities, towns and districts, a transference to one local authority was impossible, and a
compromise was inevitable. The results will be watched with much interest. One change
which it is hoped will be at once introduced is the abandonment of cutting off for any purpose
except the prevention of waste or of pollution. It is manifestly anomalous that Legislature
should declare (Sec. 49 Public Health Act (London), 1901) a house "without a proper and
sufficient supply of water" to be a nuisance and unfit for habitation, and at the same time
legalise the deprivation of such "proper and sufficient supply" from an inhabited house. Where
the supply is for any purpose discontinued from an "inhabited dwelling-house," the water
company is to give notice within twenty-four hours of such discontinuance of supply to the local
authority. (Sec. 49 Public Health (London) Act, 1891). Under that provision notices are
sent off when the water is cut off for a few hours only to effect repairs. On the other hand
the supply may be discontinued on a house being vacated by the tenants, the house being
reported as "empty" by the Inspector charged with the enquiry made on receipt of the company's
notice, and subsequently caretakers be placed in charge of the house. A case of this
kind occurred during the past year, where the caretakers were in the house for many months
without a water supply. The caretakers were discharged on the Council's notice being served,
but legal proceedings were found impossible. In consequence of the want of water, the combined
drain to which the house and two others were connected became choked, and parts of
two of the three houses flooded with sewage.
The notices received during the year from the two Companies supplying the Borough
numbered 121 in all, being 11 more than in 1901. The figures for the last six years have
been:-
Water Company- 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902
Grand Junction 100 86 100 77 52
West Middlesex 110 43 40 33 69
The reasons for discontinuing the supply were alleged to be:-
Water Company.
Grand Junction. West Middlesex.
Repairs to fittings 31 9
Empty houses 17 45
Unpaid rates 4 10
Supply not required 2
Premises in demolition 3
The periods which elapsed between discontinuance and restoration of supply are
sufficiently indicated below:-
Grand Junction. West Middlesex.
Supply restored on same day 15 3
next day 6 4
after 2 days 2 4
3 „ 2 -
4 „ 2 -
5 „ - -
0 „ - 2
7 or more 4 4