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complained of, viz., under the 13th Regulation, which provides that
"Every cistern shall be properly covered, and
placed in such a position that it may be inspected and cleansed."
All that relates to water supply has great interest for me,
and the deterioration of water in dirty cisterns has been frequently
referred to in my reports. I was glad, therefore, that the subject
had been brought to the notice of the Local Government Board,
to whose communication a reply was sent, calling their attention
to the necessity for such an alteration in the law as should give
Sanitary Authorities co-ordinate power with the companies to
enforce the regulations, and so enable them to give effect to the
views of the (late) Water Examiner. The Board, however, took
no action in the matter.
Abolition of "Waste-Pipes.—In a Memorandum by the
Medical Officer to the Local Government Board, on "Precautions
against Cholera," adverted to in my Report for 1883, it was
advised that " any connections of waste-pipes of cisterns with
drains should be severed." This advice being accordant with the
views of your Vestry, advantage was taken of the opportunity it
afforded to draw attention, once again, to the imperfections of
the law, and of the water regulations. Communications were
addressed to the Board, to the Vestries, and to the local Waterworks
Companies. The Board was informed that your Vestry
were sensible of the value of the advice given, and fully concurred
with the Water Examiner, that if Regulation 14 were "carried
out in its integrity," it would "prevent contamination of the
water from the gases generated by sewage." Request, therefore,
was made that the Board should take steps to secure the severance
of all connections of waste-pipes with drains, by urging the Companies
to put Regulation 14 into immediate and general operation,
viz., by serving the required notice on consumers. Should the
Companies refuse or neglect, the Board was asked to consider as
to the desirability of bringing in a Bill to confer on Sanitary
Authorities the necessary power to enforce the regulation.
The Sanitary Authorities were invited to support your
Vestry's action by addressing a similar communication to the