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89
duced into running streams, and gives numerous experiments to
prove his point. " Reviewing all the facts " he submits—
" 1. That when sewage is discharged into running water, provided
the primary dilution of the sewage with pure water is sufficient,
after the run of a few miles, the precise distance of travel being
dependent on several conditions, the removal of the whole of the
organic impurity will be effected.
2. That whatever may be the actual causes of certain diseases,- i.e.,
whether germs or chemical poisons, the materies morbi which finds its
way into the river at the sewage outfall, is destroyed together with the
organic impurity after a certain flow."
I now turn to Colonel Bolton's reports, which from time to time
supply a variety of interesting information in connection with the water
supply : and first with reference to
Storage. The West Middlesex Company, he states, having large
reservoir capacity for subsidence, avoid taking in water during floods,
and they are now engaged in increasing the capacity of their subsiding
and unfiltered water reservoirs at Barnes by nearly 35 million gallons,
raising the total to 91 million gallons.
The Grand Junction Company have constructed much-needed
additions of impounding and subsiding reservoirs near to the intakes
at Hampton, and are constructing additional filters at these works.
The recent addition to, and reconstruction of, the existing filters at the
Kew Bridge works have greatly improved this Company's supply.
The Chelsea Company have completed their works, and now the
intake of the subsiding reservoirs at Molesey is closed when the river
is in bad condition.
Filtration. Great improvements have been effected of late years in
respect of filtration ; and water is now taken in at Hampton and Molesey
where it is usually in far better condition than lower down, as, for