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covered so as to exclude the impurities of the air in the densely crowded neighbourhood of
the poor, ought to be thoroughly cleansed once a fortnight at least, and all receptacles for
storing water, even when they are covered and within the houses of the more wealthy classes
should be cleansed regularly once every three or four weeks—a practice which I believe is
seldom followed. However cheaply the butts, which are placed in the small backyards of the
houses occupied by the poor, may be bought, they nevertheless are of some pecuniary value, and
the outlay for the purchase of them might be saved if the water were supplied by a pipe from
the main. These butts also occupy space, which, in some ot the small yards, can be very illspared.
They are frequently leaky,whereby the yard and house are rendered damp; they
are in some instances placed in close proximity to the privy, whereby the water is contaminated.
The last and most objectionable, and yet the most common mode of supplying water to the
courts and alleys in the district, is by means of a stand tap placed in the court. As the water
flows from this tap for a very short period every day, with the exception of Sunday, it is
necessary for the inhabitants of the court to be at home when the water is turned on, otherwise
they must go without a supply, or beg it from their neighbours. If all the inhabitants are
at home at the hour when the water flows each person must wait his or her turn for a supply;
and when all the inhabitants have filled such vessels as they may be possessed of, the water is
kept in their crowded rooms, in which the family wash, cook, take their meals, and sleep;
and in which there is frequently a sick person. Water kept in rooms so occupied soon
acquires a bad taste, and is quite unfit to be used as a beverage. The use of water so
contaminated is not the only evil arising from this mode of supply. Great discomfort and
injury to health arise from the water soaking into the earth, which, in those courts that are
not paved with a good flag pavement, contains a large quantity of decomposing animal and
vegetable matter, and from which noxious exhalations are given off. By this mode of supply,
a great waste of water occurs and occasions a very considerable expense to the Water
Companies, who are now under the necessity of filtering all the water supplied to houses and
manufactories.
From what I have above stated, it must not be inferred that no improvement in
the supply of water to the public generally has within the last six years taken place; for, by
virtue of the Metropolis Water Act, the several Water Companies are now required not only
to filter all the water which flows through the mains, but they are required, under certain
conditions, to supply water at high pressure. The Water Companies have complied with the
requirements of the act, and the two Companies which supply this district have stated to me
in writing, that if landlords on their part will make the needful arrangements for giving their
tenants a constant supply of water, the directors will immediately do what devolves on the
Company in the matter. The question, therefore, of supplying the small tenements with
a sufficient quantity of water appears from this statement to rest entirely with the
landlords. I am nevertheless of opinion that the Water Companies have it in their power
to do a great deal to bring about this desirable result, as they can refuse to supply water to
any tenement unless the necessary provisions are made by the landlords to prevent the same
running to waste. The local authority can only insist upon the tenements being provided
with a proper supply of water, but the mode of supply must be settled between the landlords
and the Water Companies. It is probable, however, that under the provisions of the 37th
section of the Metropolis Water Supply Act, the Churchwardens and Overseers might insist
upon some better mode of supply of water being provided for the smaller tenements than by