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247
we have seen, that, the Companies having taken the initiative, 62
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, 1889, 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. The constant supply was given in 1890, and also
to another district in Paddington, by the same Company. Your
Vestry made application to the 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, but
the Company, in effect, refused to comply with the application.
Application has since been made to the London County Council
to require a constant service; and it is to be given. 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
at the end of 1889, 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 addition of powerful
machinery to their works. The total expenditure of the