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The Metropolis Water Act, 1852, section 22, extends
the powers contained in the 54th section of The Waterworks
Clauses Act, 1847, with reference to the water supply apparatus,
by enabling a company to require the provision of proper
apparatus or fittings—pipes, cocks, cisterns; and the removal
of improper waste-pipes, herein properly so named, but only
" whenever water shall be constantly laid on under pressure."
&c. The powers, however, re-appear in the " water regulations,"
which apply to the intermittent system likewise, and appear to
have been conferred chiefly in the interests of the ('ompanies
and with a view to the prevention of waste or misuse of the
water.
Section 26 empowers the Companies to make regulations for
the purpose of preventing the waste or misuse of water . . .
to prescribe the size, nature, and strength, of the pipes, cocks,
cisterns, and other apparatus to he used, and to interdict any
arrangements, and the use of pipes, cocks, cisterns, or other
apparatus, which may tend to such waste or misuse as aforesaid.
The Companies did not avail themselves of the powers
thus conferred.
The Metropolis Water Act, 1871.—Two of the principal
objects of this Act were, (1), to provide for constant supply—
an object very imperfectly realized hitherto, and, (2), to compel
the Companies to make " regulations," as authorized by section
26 of the Act of 1852. I have in former reports dealt with the
subject of constant supply, which may be passed over here with
the remark that the" Metropolitan Authority"(Board of Works),
have not seen fit to exercise their powers under the Act to
confer this boon on the Metropolis.
Section 17 requires the Companies to make regulations for
the purposes for which regulations may be made under section
26 of the Act of 1852, and the provisions of that section are
made to apply to the " preventing of undue consumption or
contamination of water." Section 32 reads as follows :—
" Where in any district any Company is required, or has proposed, to
provide a constant supply :—