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their respective districts, but from many causes the supply frequently
deteriorates after having been delivered by the Companies into the
cisterns of the consumers. -An inspection of the cisterns often reveals
their neglected condition and a stato of foulness altogether unsuspected,
due sometimes to the position of the cistern, the absence of any proper
covering, and other local defects. It is of the utmost importance that
the cisterns should, from time to time, be cleaned and flushed, and that
the overflow and waste-pipes should not, in any case, be in direct communication
with the house drains. The purity of the water cannot be
preserved if these precautions be neglected."
We are continuing to serve notices and, if these are neglected, to
take legal proceedings against owners of property where we find
cisterns placed over water-closets, or where the house supply is drawn
from the cistern which supplies the closet flush.
Now that the East London Water Company provide a constant
service of water to every house in the parish, a cistern for domestic
purposes is not necessary, and when we find people drawing their
drinking water from a closet cistern, notices are invariably served upon
the owners calling upon them to provide a water supply direct from
the Company's main, thus obviating entirely the possibility of the
water being fouled by improper storage.
The Sanitary Committee resolved to recommend the Yestry to
authorise the Inspectors to give notice to house owners requiring them
to provide a water supply to all closets. This is compulsory for all
houses built subsequently to the passing of the Metropolis Local
Management Act in 1855, for under that Act it is not lawful to erect
any house or to rebuild any house without a sufficient water-closet
furnished with suitable water supply and water supply apparatus
But, for houses built before the passing of this Act, owners can only
be compelled to provide water supply to closets by special resolution
of the Yestry. Jhe Act also requires the Yestry to exercise this
authority with regard to the circumstances of each particular case,
and not merely to lay down a general rule, such as that all closets
in the parish shall have water laid on. The Yestry, however, declined
to entertain the recommendation.
OFFENSIVE TEADES.
The use of Messrs. Palmer's brickfield has been discontinued, and
the site is being rapidly covered with houses.