View report page

72
the filtered water, even should they arrive in a living condition at the intakes of the companies. Thus
the hygienic objection to the use of filtered water taken from the Thames and Lee is removed. The result
of recent observations conducted in this country, in Germany, and especially in the United States of
America, is confirmed by the absence in London since the year 1866 of zymotic diseases traceable to the
water supply. To secure this desirable result, however, efficient filtration is essential; and there can be no
doubt that the serious loss of life during the cholera epidemics of 1849, 1854 and 1866 was due to the war.t
of attention to filtration.
The weight that deservedly attaches to statements By Sir Edward Frankland, and the fact that
his report is included in the report of the Local Government Board, the principal health authority of
this country, makes it necessary that I should submit certain considerations which I think should be
held in view in any effort to define the actual amount of risk to London inhabitants from water derived
from the Thames and Lee. In the first place, it is necessary to point out that the absence of discovery
of pathogenic organisms in the rivers at the intakes must not be accepted as proofthat these organisms
are not from time to time present in the river water in those localities. All that can be assured is that
they were not present in sufficient numbers to be discovered in certain samples of water which were
examined, samples which in relation to the volume of water arriving at the intakes were infinitely small.
These organisms might be present in one gallon of water, absent from another; they might be present
near the intakes at one time, absent at another time.
In the second place Sir Edward Frankland states that efficient sand filtration would prevent the
passage of pathogenic germs into the filtered water. To effect this result the filters must be able to
prevent the passage of all organisms, for there is no reason for thinking that the filters have any power
of selection which would lead them to treat pathogenic organisms differently from non-pathogenic
organisms, and Sir Edward Frankland's reports only show that the filters very largely reduce the
number of organisms.
In the third place, Sir Edward Frankland's statement that zymotic diseases traceable to the
water supply have been absent in London since 1866 leads me to point out that under the conditions
which have existed, and still exist, there has been no sufficient opportunity for determining whether
enteric fever has or has not been caused by water supply. It is no doubt true there has been no
mortality from this cause sufficiently large to manifest itself in the absence of a proper system of
observation, but, in view of the experience of 1894, I cannot assent to the statement as to "the
absence in London since the year 1866 of zymotic diseases traceable to the water supply."
In his last sentence Sir Edward Frankland insists, and properly insists, that efficient filtration is
essential to secure the absence of water-borne disease ; it need hardly be added that everything in this
connection depends upon the meaning which is to attach to the word " efficient."
In writing thus, I am not actuated by any fear that under existing circumstances the London
inhabitants are not substantially protected against any such disasters as those of past years to which
Sir Edward Frankland refers. Nor, indeed, is it probable that there will be greater indications
of relationship between enteric fever in London and water supply than those afforded by the experience
of the year 1894, and which I have discussed in my annual report for that year. Indeed,
even if no further improvements be effected in filtration, such indications might readily be lost
as water companies come more largely to interchange their water. But it may be that the conditions
of the present time may not always continue, that with growth of population in the river valleys above
the intake there may be increase of pollution, and that as between the opposing forces of increase of
pollution and the filtration of the water companies the former may become the more powerful. It
appears to me therefore, seeing that the rivers are a polluted source, matter of the greatest importance
that opportunities should be given and should continually exist for determining whether at any time
there is relationship between the enteric fever of London and water supply.
Proceedings of the Council as to London water supply.
On the 28th January, 1896, the Council received from the Water Committee a report stating
that after inspection of the water areas of the Usk and Wye they were of opinion that one of the advantages
of the Welsh scheme is that it may be carried out by instalments, and that assuming the present sources of
supply to be maintained, a supplementary supply of purer and more wholesome water may be obtained
from Wales sufficient for the requirements of London forty years hence, at a cost little, if at all,
exceeding that which would be incurred by the formation of reservoirs in the Thames valley.
On the 25th February, the Committee presented a further and more detailed report on the
Welsh sources of supply, and making recommendations to the Council of which the following were
adopted on the 21st April.
(1.) That it is in the interests of London that the requisite augmentation to its supplies
of water to meet the needs that may ultimately be felt should be derived from some source
other than the rivers Thames and Lee.
(2.) That the valleys of the Usk, the Wye and the Towy, with their tributaries, furnish
a suitable area from some parts of which supplies might be derived.
(3.) That the Usk and Llangorse section of the Welsh scheme, as set out in the report,
should be undertaken in the first instance.
On the 14th July the Council received a report from the Water Committee, stating that it was
the Committee's intention as soon as possible to obtain further engineering advice upon the whole scheme
of a supply from Wales, and that they had engaged the assistance of Sir Benjamin Baker and
Mr. G. F. Deacon.
On the 21st July the Council resolved that in view of the desirability that the authority or
authorities which may he entrusted by Parliament with the administration of the London water supply
should be in a position to undertake the purchase of the water companies' interests, the Council, without
in any way committing itself at this stage to the terms of the purchase, the form or provisions of the
bill or bills, do hereby resolve that a bill or bills be prepared for introduction in the session of 1897
for the purchase of the undertakings of the eight metropolitan water companies, The Council postponed