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34
In an interview with the chairman of the Public Health Committee and medical
officer, the engineer to the Water Company stated that all reasonable expenses
incurred by the Vestry in dealing with the deficiency in the water supply would be
met by the Water Company. It was also intimated that it might become necessary
in a short time, as matters were at that time, for the Company to further restrict the
amount of water supplied to their consumers.
For supplementing the supply afforded by the standpipes, arrangements were
made with the Dusting and Scavenging department for water carts to be stationed in
Long Street, Fellows Street, Boston Street, Whiston Street and Marlborough Eoad,
during the times the water was off. This arrangement was subsequently altered.
The affected area was divided into five districts, each of which was perambulated by
a water cart to distribute water from door to door to such as required it during the
time the water was turned off. Each cart was also provided with a supply of carbolic
powder for distribution where necessary. The use of the water carts for this purpose
was continued until it was no longer necessary on November 26th. The constant
supply was wholly resumed on December 12th, in Shoreditch.
Handbills were printed and circulated in the district calling the attention of
consumers to the necessity of well flushing water closets and drains when the water
was on, and recommending that all waste and dirty water should be thrown down the
closets at other times. The handbills also stated that information as to the hours
when the water was put on and cut off in the various streets could be obtained on
enquiry at the Public Health Department,
The distribution of storage jars was continued at the Town Hall until the
beginning of November. Altogether 500 three gallon jars supplied by the proprietors
of the Evening News, and over 1,500 two gallon jars supplied by the East London
Waterworks Company were given away. All precautions were taken as far as possible
to secure the jars being delivered only to families actually in need of them.
About September 3rd, the water supply was restricted further to two periods of
two hours each, and continued so until the end of October. About the middle of
October there were a few days heavy rain, and towards the end of the month the
supply was increased again. On November the 26th, there was a further increase,
the water being on practically the whole daytime and off at night, and this was the
arrangement until the constant supply was resumed during the second week in
December.
During the month of September, samples of the water supplied by the East
London Waterworks Company taken in Shoreditch were submitted to chemical
analysis, and to bacterioscopic examination. As the result of bacterioscopic examination,
the water obtained from house taps in connection with the Water Company's
mains, which were intermittently charged, was distinctly inferior to that obtained