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40
In the large houses in this Parish it will not perhaps
be desirable to abolish the cisterns for waterclosets
and ordinary purposes of the household.
The great gain will be having a main constantly
charged so that the potable water can be drawn
off cool and fresh at all times. This change will
probably necessitate some alterations of fittings,
for old lead pipes now in use may not stand the
pressure to which they will be subjected. A stopcock
will of necessity be required on the street
main, for in case of any failure in the fittings the
whole house would be deluged; or what would be
equally inconvenient,a whole neighbourhood might
be deprived of water, if the Main Service pipes
were turned off until the temporary defects were
remedied.
In poor neighbourhoods it would be difficult to
say what plan is best; in the worst kind of property
(of which there is very little in this Parish) where
expensive brass taps would be stolen, injured, or left
running, a stand-pipe from which the inhabitants
could fetch water is the simplest and most economical
; but on the better class of tenant house property
the inhabitants will insist upon a draw-off tap inside
the house, or somewhere on the premises at least.
The w.c. supply could then remain as now
attached to the ordinary cistern, or abolished; a
special water waste preventor cistern, at small cost,
can be fitted on to the constant supply pipe.
I think landlords must go a step further—Those
who let out floors and rooms to separate families
ought to provide a separate water supply on each