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Company may not at the time be under an obligation to afford it.
I think it will be apparent, even from this cursory outline of a few
of the regulations, that we are likely to wait long for a constant
supply, unless the Companies think fit to force it upon as, which
it would be to their advantage to do if reduction in the amount of
water supplied, viz., by the prevention of waste, is of any importance
to their interests. New buildings, and especially in new neighbourhoods,
will get a constant supply first, and the experience
thus acquired of the benefits of the system may in course of time
lead to its more general adoption; but old and poor localities will
probably have to wait a long time. Indeed, if the terms of the
Act are strictly enforced by the Companies, it will be found
almost impossible to provide a district with the " prescribed
fittings " within the specified time.
Without entering into further details, and having regard to tho
powers for obstruction given to the Companies, I may repeat here
what I have before stated, that " our prospect of an early and
general introduction of the constant supply system depends largely
upon the disposition of the Companies to comply loyally with tho
spirit of the Act." Let us see then, in conclusion, what has been
done by them since the Act has come into operation. The only
Company that has, to my knowledge, taken any serious step with
a view to providing the constant service, is the East London,
which gave notice to the Metropolitan Board of Works, some
time in 1872, of their intention to bring under constant supply
on and from the 25th day of March, 1873, a large block of premises,
comprising upwards of 6,000 houses, at the East End, at
the same time announcing their intention, with as little delay as
possible, to deal in the same manner with other parts of their district.
I cannot learn that the scheme has been carried out.
Major Bolton, the Water Examiner under the Act, in his report
for April, 1873, states that the Kent Company have given notice
of their intention to give a constant supply in June to about
1,000 houses at Rotherhithe and Deptford. The New River
Company are stated to have made provision for effecting a constant
supply by constructing a new service reservoir at Highgate. The
Southwark and Vauxhall Company are constructing reservoirs at
Nunhead for high-pressure constant service. The West Middlesex
Company have given constant supply to about 100 houses on the
application of the owners, who have provided fittings according
to the regulations, and are said to be fully prepared to extend
the constant supply when called upon. This Company is constructing
additional engine power at Hammersmith and at Hampton,
to afford an effective constant supply. The Grand Junction Company
are making a high-service covered reservoir at Kilburn for
the same purpose. The New River and the Lambeth Companies are
giving a constant supply to many houses in courts and
alleys, by means of stand pipes. This appears to be all that has