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44
On the 12th July the following notice was issued by the Company:—
NOTICE.
In consequence of the unprecedented and continuous drought, the
hours of supply of water must be materially curtailed. Consumers are
requested therefore to store a reserve while the water is on and to
abstain from using it for any purpose whatever other than domestic
necessities. The watering of gardens by sprinklers and hose is strictly
prohibited for the time being.
By order,
J. A. CROOKENDEN, Secretary.
St Helen's Place, E.C., July 12tn, 1895.
Up to this time the water had been supplied during the day,
but on the 13th it was reduced to three hours during the twentyfour,
and for the next two or three weeks, serious complaints were
heard on all sides of want of water, insufficient pressure while the
supply was on, in addition to complaints of choked drains, waterclosets,
etc., and foul emanations from such insanitary conveniences.
The number of written complaints received by the Sanitary Department
during this period, did not much exceed the usual number at
this time of the year, but the reason for this was not that such
results did not occur in consequence of the scarcity of water, but
that the public early recognised the fact that the Sanitary Authority
were as helpless as themselves, and that it was useless to apply to
them for a remedy against the action of the Company.
Complaints were also general that the sewer ventilators and
road gullies were very offensive at this time. And this is what
might be expected; for the curtailment of the domestic supply means
curtailment of the volume of water passing through the sewers.
This state of things continued until the 28th July when the
supply was increased to about five or six hours daily. This extension
continued until the 17th August, when the supply was
further increased to about eleven hours a day, and on the 8th
September, the constant service was resumed.