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47
WATER-SUPPLY.
instances I alluded in my last Report, and from the
present year I can quote you a striking additional
one. At Wolverhampton, in 1849, the system of
supply, which had previously been intermittent, was
made continuous. Instead of waste ensuing on the
change, its immediate effect was a reduction of 22
per cent, on the quantity consumed. So great had
been the unpopularity of the intermittent system of
supply, that at the time of the change the company
had not more than 600 customers. Immediately
on the adoption of the new system, their customers
increased, and within ten months had risen to 1400.
This increase was continuing up to the date of the
Report (May 4th, 1850) at which time they were
adding to the number of their customers at the rate
of 50 each week. The above facts (as is well observed
by the resident engineer, Mr. Marten) may
be taken as a fair test that the system of continuous
supply is one of superior adaptation to the domestic
wants of the public.
This case is but an inconsiderable fraction of the
evidence which lies before the public on the subject
of continuous supply. With such evidence before
me, in contrast to what I observe of the distribution
of water within the City of London, I cannot refrain
from repeating to your Honourable Court my confirmed
and deliberate opinion, that our method of
supply is essentially bad, and that it withholds from
the poorer population of the City a large proportion
of those sanitary advantages which it is the object