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giving constant supply to all new estates and buildings, and where new
services are laid down constant supply is made compulsory by the Company;
2,860 houses were put on constant supply during the year and
in May 1884, the number of houses on constant supply was 15,702 out
of a total of 63,370.
The Grand Junction Company in May 1884 were giving constant supply to
30,612 houses, out of a total of 48,130: the increase during the year 1883
was 8,158, and the system has been extended to North Kensington and
new estates at Notting Hill. The reservoirs at Kew Bridge and Camp.
den Hill have been connected with the main 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 in May 1884, were giving constant supply to 3,807
houses (increase during the past year, 664), out of a total of 32,587, 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: all new estates, and new lines of
streets are being so supplied. 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 117,493,
out of a total of 142,605 houses supplied by them, and containing an
estimated population of 1,069,537 persons. Considerable advance was
made during the past year in London as a whole in extending the constant
supply; 237,826 of the total number of 664,440 houses supplied,
being now on constant service.
The number of miles of streets containing mains constantly charged, and on
which hydrants for fire extinguishing purposes could at once be fixed,
in the districts of the local Companies are, West Middlesex, 81 ; Grand
Junction, 62; and Chelsea, 70. The Companies are ready to affix
hydrants on the mains whenever required to do so. In the Metropolis
there are now fixed 6,555 hydrants, the total length of mains being 916
miles : the increase, in mains, during 1882 being 87¼ miles, and in number
of hydrants, 392.
Deterioration of Water in Dirty Cisterns.—The
Local Government Board sometime ago addressed a circular
letter to Nuisance Authorities in the Metropolis, stating that
the Water Examiner had drawn their attention to the serious
deterioration which water frequently undergoes, after delivery,
by being kept in impure cisterns, and enclosing an