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Effectual filtration is greatly facilitated by previous subsidence. The rate of
filtration should not exceed 540 gallons per square yard of filter bed each 24
hours, and no Company now exceeds this rate of filtration, which, for all practical
purposes, may be considered as a standard. The means of storage for subsidence
and the area of filter beds possessed by the several local Companies, appear to be
now adequate to secure effectual filtration as required by the Act.
It is to little purpose, however, that well filtered and "good"
water should be supplied if the supply is allowed, as it so frequently
is, to deteriorate in the cisterns of the consumers through the uncleanly
condition of those receptacles, and the connection of them
with the drains through the medium of the "waste-pipes," which
the Companies have the power to abolish under the provisions of
the water regulations (No. 14). The remedy no doubt is a constant
supply; but as we shall have to wait long for this, I can but
urge again that the Companies should be compelled to exercise
their powers under the regulations, or that the Sanitary Authorities
should have equal power with the Companies to enforce the regulations.
The quantity of water supplied daily by the several Companies,
243,164, and 243 gallons per house by the Grand Junction, West
Middlesex, and Chelsea Companies respectively, is superabundant,
and indicates great waste. The "intake" of the last-named Company
is the Thames at West Molesey: of the other two the
Thames at Hampton Court. The state of the water in the
Thames during the months of February, March, November and
December, was generally bad, and, owing to the frequent floods,
the water that had to be taken in by the Companies was much
polluted, and was found to be extremely difficult to filter; the
solid impurities in suspension being only practically got rid of by
long subsidence previous to filtration, as they chiefly consist of
clay, marl, and chalk in a very finely divided state.
The following particulars, among others, are given by Col.
Bolton, in respect of the Local Companies:—
Storage.—No new works have been found necessary by the Grand Junction and
Chelsea Companies, the existing means being sufficient to enable the Companies
to supply effectually filtered water at all times; but the West Middlesex Company
are constructing a subsiding reservoir of 7½ acres area at Barnes to contain
24,000,000 gallons.
Filtration.—The West Middlesex Company are constructing two additional filter
beds at Barnes upon an improved principle, area of each 1⅛ acres. When all the