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30
"previous sewage contamination" mean that the water contained
sewage matters, and was unfit for use. I refer to this matter
here, as I believe much injury has been done by the use of these
words. A very important Act was passed this year called the
Metropolis "Water Act, 1871, by which the Companies are
required, after the month of April, 1872, to provide a constant
supply of water to such parts of their districts as the Metropolitan
authority (the Metropolitan Board of Works) shall
require and make application to the Companies requesting suoh
supply. The Companies are however not bound to give it in a
less period than four months after the service of a notice
requiring them so to do. nor unless four-fifths of the premises
comprised within the district mentioned in the notice, shall be
provided within two months from the time of the service of the
said order or notice, with the fittings prescribed by the Company.
The word constant supply means a constant supply to a cistern
capable of holding one days consumption of water, and to a pipe
provided with a screw-down stop valve, the latter supply to be
used for drinking and cooking. It is further provided that no
Company shall be compelled to give a constant supply to any
promises until they are provided with the prescribed fittings, or
to continue it if the fittings get out of order, and that any person
who shall "cause or suffer any fittings to be out of repair, or to
be so used or contrived as that the water supplied to him by
such Company is or is likely to be wasted, misused, unduly
consumed or contaminated, or so as to occasion or allow the
return of foul air or other noisome or impure matter into any
pipe belonging to or connected with the pipes of such Company,
he shall for every such offence be liable to a penalty not exceeding
five pounds." There is also an additional provision that
the Company may under these circumstances cut off the supply
and give notice thereof to the Sanitary authority for the district.