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stringent as to constitute a heavy and unnecessary burden on the
owners and occupiers of houses. It is nevertheless the fact, as
we have seen, that, the Companies having taken the initiative, 59 per
cent, of the houses in the Metropolis now have constant supply;
and the system is being extended daily. For the first time since
the passing of the Metropolis Water Act, 1871, the " Metropolitan
Authority "(i.e., the County Council) made application, in October,
to a Waterworks Company, requiring from the Company a constant
supply in a certain district described in the notice. The application
was made at the request of the Vestry of St. Pancras, in which
Parish the district is situated, and being within the water limits of
the West Middlesex Waterworks Company. Your Vestry have
recently made application to the same Company for a constant
service in the north east district of this Parish, the only portion
of Kensington north of Uxbridge Road now on the intermittent
service.* If necessary, application will have to be made to the
County Council, who can make such applications with authority
And it is to be hoped that the Council will henceforth, " make
application," from time to time, to the several Companies, until
the entire Metropolis shall have obtained constant supply. The
Companies are not compelled to give it unless certain conditions
as to fittings are complied with, but as they are willing, and
speaking generally even desirous of giving it, it may be anticipated
that means will be found to satisfy their requirements,
which are to a large extent necessary for the avoidance of undue
waste of water.
Subsequent to the passing of the Act of 1871, the Water
Companies have incurred a considerable expenditure, amounting
altogether to over 4½ millions, for the improvement of the water
supply, both in quantity and quality, viz., by extending the storage
capacity of their reservoirs, and increasing their areas of filtration ;
by providing for the requirements of constant supply; by the
construction of high service reservoirs for filtered water ; by the
laying of mains, and by the additionof powerful machinery to their
* The Company in effect refused to comply with the application.