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166
Storage.—No new works have been found necessary by the Chelsea Company,
the existing means being sufficient for the supply of effectually filtered water at
all times; the West Middlesex Company have constructed a subsiding reservoir of
7½ acres area at Barnes to contain 21,000,00(1 gallons, and the Grand Junction
Company have completed the construction of a storage reservoir holding 45
million gallons.
Filtration.—The West Middlesex Company have completed the construction
of two additional filter beds, upon an improved principle, area of each 11/8 acres,
and now have 36 acres of subsiding and storage reservoirs of a capacity of
nearly 116 million gallons. The Grand Junction Company have completed the
construction of three filters capable of filtering five million gallons of water
per day, with a covered reservoir to contain two million gallons of filtered water.
The Chelsea Company have not found it necessary to undertake any new
works in the last year.
Constant Supply.—I have no means of ascertaining to what extent the constant
supply has been extended to houses in this parish; but the following facts
relating to the subject, as it concerns the Companies in which we are interested,
may be acceptable. The West Middlesex Company are giving constant supply to
all new estates and buildings, and where new services are laid down constant
supply is made compulsory by the Company; 2,076 houses were put on constant
supply during the year, making the number of houses on constant supply
11,197, out of a total of 61,702.
The Grand Junction Company are giving constant supply to 18,401 houses,
out of a total of 46,313. They are preparing to extend the system to North
Kensington, and for this purpose the reservoirs at Campden Hill are kept filled by
continuous pumping at Kew Bridge and Campden Hill. The reservoirs at
Kew Bridge and Campden Hill have been connected with the mains of the East
London Company in order to insure a supply of water from the works of that
Company at Sunbury, in case of accident or emergency.
The Chelsea Company are giving constant supply to 2,824 houses, out of a
total of 31,846; and are fully prepared to extend the system as required; but
judging from the few applications made for such supply, there appears to be no
desire in the public authorities, or private individuals, in this, or either of the
other districts, for the constant service. By way of contrast, and to show how
backward the Western Companies are in this matter of constant supply, as
compared with the Companies in the East of London, where the Companies
have taken the initiative, it may be mentioned that the East London Waterworks
Company now give constant supply to 106,043, out of a total of
137,283, houses supplied by them, and containing an estimated population of
1,029,622 persons. Considerable advance was made during the past year in
London as a whole in extending the constant supply; 202,443 of the total
number of 643,752 houses supplied, being now on constant service.