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in which the cisterns and other receptacles of water are
allowed to remain, contaminating the most pure supply.
1858.—Blackheath.—Fever has been attributed, no
doubt with justice, to the contamination of well water by the
numerous cesspools in the locality. A suggestion is made
that the new sewer should be extended so as to drain this
locality.
1809.—1 am happy to inform you of the improved
quality of the water from the Kent Waterworks Company,
who obtain a largo supply from an artesian well upon their
premises at Deptford. The river still requires improvement.
1864.—The Water Supply of the district is derived from
two sources; Blackheath and Lewisham being supplied by the
Kent Water W orks Company; Sydenham and Penge by
the Lambeth Water Works Company.
The Kent Water Works Company formerly derived
their supply from the Ravensbourne river; but since the
wholesale contamination of the river with sewage (which will
be partly put a stop to by the new sewer), have been obliged
to resort to artesian wells, which afford a considerable supply.
The Lambeth Water Works Company obtain their
supply from the Thames at Long Ditton.
Both these companies supply water upon the intermittent
principle, necessitating the use of cisterns to store
the water.
Section 67 of the Metropolis Management Act, 1862,
enacts that a sufficient supply of water (not exceeding 30
gallons each person) shall be afforded to every house, and
that if the water supply is not sufficient for the number of
persons residing in the house (being more than one single
family), proceedings may be taken as for overcrowding.
Section 70 of the same Act also empowers any District
Board to erect drinking fountains; and section 116 of the
. original Act empowers District Boards to erect pumps for
the gratuitous supply of water to the inhabitants.
Examined at almost any season of the year, the cisterns
attached to many of the poorer class of houses contain water