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249
Under the head of "Quality" the committee
dealing with the quality of the water
supplied for domestic purposes quoted from
Colonel Sir. F. Bolton's report for August,
1883 to show that the Southwark and Vauxhall
Company were compelled, whenever floods
prevailed, to take in from their source of
supply—the Thames, turbid water, as they were
unprovided with storage reservoirs. Being also
unprovided with reservoirs for subsidence, they
had to draw from the river at all times, and
consequently the filter beds soon became
choked. For the year, during which these
inefficient arrangements existed, the Company's
revenue was nearly £203,000 out of
which about £3380 were spent in filtration,
maintenance, and repairs, &c., while the sum
declared available for dividend during the same
period is shown to exceed £83,000.
The question of "Price" also engaged the
attention of the committee, and they were
unanimously of opinion that the charge should
be regulated by the quantity consumed, the
same as for gas or any other commodity, and