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62
WELL WATER SUPPLY IN THE CITY.
The heavy increase in the charges made by the Metropolitan Water Board
for the water service, has of late years resulted in the sinking of a large
number of artesian wells, and in June, 1910, I submitted the result of an
investigation into the nature of the water derived from such sources in the
City. Consideration of space prevents the full reproduction of the report I
then presented, but it is essential in a resume of the year's work, that I should
here refer to the conditions and circumstances affecting the citizens' supply of
an indispensable element. This I will endeavour to accomplish as briefly as
possible.
While there is no reason to take exception to the quality of the water
supplied by the Metropolitan Water Board, the heavy charges levied have
stimulated many property owners to seek relief from what they consider an
unjust taxation, by sinking wells.
The City supply of water is derived from—
(a) The New River District (formerly the New River Company), the
sources of supply being the Chadwell Spring, the River Lea, and 18
chalk wells.
(b) The Eastern District (formerly the East London Water Company),
the source of supply being from the River Lea, the Thames at Sunbury,
and chalk wells and springs.
With the exception of a few supplies in the Parishes of St. Botolph,
Bishopsgate, and St. Botolph, Aldgate, which are in the Eastern District, the
New River District embraces the whole of the City.
I do not wish to condemn the methods of the Water Boards at all, but it
must not be overlooked that both of these districts are, to some extent,
dependent upon the River Thames and the River Lea, both of which are
navigable rivers flowing through densely populated areas, and doubtless
receive their due share of filth and other objectionable matter. When the
sixth report of the River's Pollution Commission, dated 1874, was issued, it
was scarcely known that filtration removed anything more than suspended
impurities, and that only to an imperfect extent, and the use of water for
domestic purposes from both the Rivers Thames and Lea was unsparingly
condemned by the Commission, but very soon after that Report was written,
it became quite evident from things that occurred in connection with the
London Water Supply, that organic matter in solution, as well as suspended
impurities was removed by filtration. The Water Board moreover, take every
precaution to ensure that the water supply under their control is free