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One regrets that the Building Bye-laws do not give greater
power over the quality of the materials used in new buildings,
when the health of the people depends as much upon what a
house is built as the manner in which it is built.
Houses without Water.—On 22 occasions the Metropolitan
Water Board found it necessary to cut off the water from
premises, as compared with 41 for the previous year. The
water is usually cut off for waste, but not before owners
have been given ample time to remedy the cause. Considering
that there are 26,000 houses in the Borough, the number must
be regarded as small. Upon receiving information from the
Water Board that the water has been cut off, the premises are
forthwith visited and a 24 hours Notice served. In the event
of the water not being reinstated, the Council order Legal
Proceedings to be instituted under the East Ham Improvement
Act.
On only one occasion has it been necessary to seek the aid
of the Court, the particulars of which are recorded under
"Summary proceedings (vide p. 123).
Storage of Drinking Water.—For the year now under
consideration, special attention has been given to the position
of the drinking water cisterns and accessibility thereof for
cleansing purposes, and 201 cases have been dealt with for
improper storage, and 144 cisterns have been ordered to be
fitted with tight-fitting covers.
In most cases of improper storage a draw tap from the
rising main has been fixed. It is amazing to find the appalling
indifference that still exists among many people as to the
internal condition of the drinking-water cistern, it is a
common experience to find occupiers who are unaware that they
have a cistern until it is discovered in the roof, to get at which
requires some personal effort not to be found in every
occupier of a dwelling-house, and it is with pleasure that we
welcome the present conditions insisted upon in all new houses
by the Borough Engineer's Department, viz., the fixing of a