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from the standpipes in connection with the mains which were constantly charged,
which was of good quality, both bacteriologically and chemically. I am inclined to
believe that this is to a considerable extent attributable to the interruption of the
constant supply. If water mains are defective and leaky, as has been alleged to be
the case with regard to some of the mains belonging to the East London Waterworks
Company, an intermittent water supply is much more liable to be attended with
serious results to the public health than would be the case if such mains were kept
constantly charged with water, the risk of insuction into defective mains being
increased by intermitting the supply of water.
Any effects of the restriction of the water supply there may have been upon the
health of the people supplied by the East London Waterworks Company in Shoreditch
were not apparent. Scarcity of water is likely to result in uncleanliness of person,
clothing and habitation, and generally a state of things tending to lower the state of
health ; the spread of diarrhoea and enteric fever is also promoted, but as far as could
be ascertained there were no grounds for believing that the prevalence of these
disorders in Shoreditch was materially affeoted by the scarcity of water last year.
Owing to the imperfect flushing of drains and interference with the action of
sanitary appliances dependent upon a constant supply of water for efficiency,
numerous examples of nuisances due to the deficiency in the water supply came under
observation in the East London Water district.
The hardship and inconvenience in Shoreditch resulting from the interference
with the water supply naturally gave rise to a justifiable outburst of popular indignation
against the Water Company, and there was a great gathering of the inhabitants
of Shoreditch at the Town Hall, on September 15th, protesting against the long series
of famines in the East London Waterworks Company's area, and calling upon the
Government to pass immediate legislation placing the London water supply under
municipal control, and with power to ask for fresh sources of supply.
At a conference of representatives of the several authorities in the area supplied
by the Water Company, which was convened at the Hackney Town Hall on the
29th November, it was held to be desirable that there should be one central authority
for the water supply of London, instead of the eight metropolitan water companies
now existing, and that such central authority should be the London County Council,
provision being made for the representation on the Water Committee of the London
County Council of the outlying districts now supplied with water. The conference
also approved of the basis on which the Water Bills of the London County Council
were to be introduced into Parliament, including the purchase of the undertakings of
the water companies, and the bringing of an additional supply of water to London
from Wales.
The first Eeport of the Royal Commission on the Water Supply within the
limits of the Metropolitan Water Companies, dated December 20th, 1898, has