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I failed to get the West Middlesex and Grand Junction Companies
to move in the matter. The views expressed by the
Secretaries were to the effect that "the Companies, being tradingbodies,
did not care to offend their customers: the regulation was
intended to prevent waste of water, simply, and as they had
plenty of water they didn't care about the waste." The Chelsea
Company have an abundance of water at the present time, but
they complain of waste, for Sir Francis Bolton, referring to this
Company, says, " A large quantity of water continues to be wasted
by defective fittings, and the Company are taking active measures,
by means of an increased staff of Inspectors, to discover the sources
of waste, and it is hoped that, by their perseverance, it will
gradually be reduced." I failed also in the attempt to convince
the Secretaries that the Commissioners, in framing Regulation 14,
must surely have had in view the removal of a dangerous nuisance
as Well as the prevention of waste. It may be added that under
the regulations for the construction of drainage to new houses,
which have been enforced for some time past in this parish, and
also under the "Regulations for houses let in lodgings or occupied
by members of more than one family," waste-pipes are not
allowed to have direct communication with the drains. But to
resume]
The Local Government Board subsequently addressed a communication
to the Water Companies on the subject of Regulation
14, and these in turn prepared circular notices, which were
left at every house in the districts of the several Companies.
Attention was drawn to the excellent advice upon the subject
of cleansing and covering of cisterns, and cutting-off of wastepipes,
which, from time to time, the Water Examiner embodies
in his reports. In every circular also, the regulation was quoted
in its entirety. It is impossible to say how much or how little
good may have been effected as a result of the trouble the Companies
took in the matter; it is impossible, moreover, not to
regret that the Companies did not go one step further and give
the required "notice" to every householder, to cut-off all connections
of waste-pipes of cisterns with drains, as they had been