View report page

20
further, that some representatives of the Thames
Water Companies should be added to the Conservancy
of the River to protect the Water Supply of
the Metropolis. This recommendation has not howver
yet received the sanction of an Act of Parliament
After this assurance that every care will be
taken to guarantee for the future a pure supply,
all fears on the subject may be allayed. I
may mention that besides the precaution just
alluded to, a Report of Lieut.-Col. Ewart to the
Home Secretary recommends additional means for
guarding against river pollution in places that may
be adapted for town drainage. There is no doubt
that the oxidizing power of vegetation in streams
and rivers of large size, running a distance of 10 or
12 miles, is in itself often sufficient to remove all
noxious quality of sewage water poured into them.
There are differences of opinion on this point,
but abundant evidence goes to show that the Metropolitan
Public generally, and the inhabitants of
Paddington especially, may rest satisfied that the
Thames really will in future furnish an abundant
and pure supply of water at a moderate cost.—But
the system of storage in cisterns, placed so near
the water-closet or the dust-bin, that the water
becomes readily defiled by the gasous emanations
therefrom, ought to be abolished. A petition should
sooner or later be prepared by the Vestry for the
adoption of the 44 constant supply system" as used
at Manchester and other large towns.