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18
much needed reform. This matter is strongly urged in
the local summary for Wandsworth.
The Water Supply.— This question is one we have
long and fully discussed in these reports. With the
exception of the Grand Junction, the Southwark Water
Company continues to supply the worst water in the
Metropolis. We have, in last year's report, defined the
points requiring attention on the part of the water company—better
filtration, subsiding reservoirs, and constant
service; but we feel we are doing an injustice to any
water company if we expect them to supply pure water
from the Thames. According to Dr. Frankland (Registrar-General's
Annual Summary) the Thames water was
more impure from organic matter in 1878 than for
ten years previously, and the proportion of organic
impurity was greater than can be considered consistent
with water fit for domestic purposes. The BegistrarGeneral
quotes the opinion of Mr. Bateman (of Loch
Katrine fame) that pure water may be brought to London
from Wales at an annual outlay of £470,000, covering
interest of capital and an annual charge for working
expenses of £150,000, while we are now spending
£1,283,548 a-year "for waters polluted more or less by
the sewage of innumerable towns." If this be true, surely
the days of the Thames Water Companies are numbered.
The plan often advocated in these reports of obtaining
water from the chalk stratum round London is also
recommended by the Registrar-General. The question has
been prominently brought before Parliament by Mr.
Fawcett. We would be glad to be freed from the
tyranny of the monopolists.