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stating the number of years since they were cleaned out, and the probable
quantity of animal and vegetable matter which they contain in the form
of deposit. These four ponds are most serious nuisances, and injurious,
in their present state, to the health of the inhabitants.
'Drainage.
Your Surveyor's former reports describe the drainage of the entire
Wandsworth District as very defective; and that this is especially the
case in this sub-district I have good reason to know, since, in many
instances, necessary house improvements have been impossible, on
account of the dilapidated and antiquated condition of the sewers, without
system and without design, which is much to be deplored. They
are frequently productive of nuisances of the very worst character, and
most injurious to the health of the inhabitants. A complete system of
tunnel sewerage, substantially built and sufficiently capacious, as also a
system of tubular pipe drainage for house purposes, are great desiderata.
Our elevated site gives us a good fall for surface and underground
drainage on every side, so that such drainage is easy of execution, and
if carried out, would render our parish one of the cleanest and healthiest
in the Metropolis.
Water Supply.
This parish is mainly supplied with water by the Southwark and
Yauxhall Water Company, taken from the Thames at Hampton, about
twenty-one miles above London Bridge. In quality this water is as good
as can be procured from such a source; it is turned on daily, except on
Sundays. For domestic purposes it answers tolerably well, but for
drinking purposes I cannot commend it. There were formerly some
good wells available to the public, but at the present time nearly the
whole of these are enclosed and claimed as private property. Generally
the first class houses have pumps, and most of the second class houses
are similarly accommodated. On the whole, our supply is better and
more abundant than it was in the year 1856; and I am happy to be able
to state, that the.poorer classes generally enjoy the comforts of a more
liberal supply of good water, and also of other sanitary requirements
heretofore unknown in and about their dwellings.
JOHN McDONOGH,
Medical Officer of Health fur Clapham.