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173
referred to as prominent in "respect of the uniformity in the
quality of its water this Company using," to an appreciable
extent sand from Harwich which is remarkably fine
and uniform in grain." The sand becomes clogged in course
of time, and then the upper layer is scraped off and removed.
Renewals of sand should take place periodically as the layer
becomes reduced below an assigned minimum.
But filtration avails little if the water is allowed, as
frequently happens, to be fouled in the cisterns; whether
through the uncleanly condition of those receptacles or by the
connection of them with drains through the medium of wastepipes.
The attention of householders cannot be too frequently
drawn to the necessity for the abolition of waste-pipes and the
periodical cleansing of cisterns for storing potable water.
Cisterns, moreover, should be properly covered so as to exclude
light and dirt; and so placed that the water may be kept cool
in summer, without being in danger of freezing in winter.
When "constant supply" is given, a screw-down draw-off tap
should be affixed to the rising main or service pipe, so that
drinking and cooking water may be drawn therefrom, fresh and
uucontaminated, without the intervention of cisterns, which are
required for washing, flushing, baths, and similar purposes. A
stop-valve should be fixed outside the premises to prevent
damage to the house in case of pipes burst by frost or other
causes.
The quantity of water for domestic purposes supplied by
the Grand Junction, the West Middlesex, and the Chelsea
Companies respectively, last year averaged 26.8, 22.5,
and 27'3 gallons daily per head of the population, and
241, 169, and 215 gallons per house. The "intake" of
the Chelsea Company is at West Molesey, the intakes of
the other Companies being at Hampton. The Grand Junction
supply is supplemented from sand and gravel beds at
Hampton, the Company having a complete system of