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whenever four-fifths of the inhabitants of a district,
or rather, of the occupiers of the houses require such
supply, and put their pipes, cocks, and other fittings
for the distribution of water into a proper condition
to receive it; and it is a very significant fact that no
such requisition has ever been made to the water
companies. It is very doubtful, indeed, whether, if
the sense of the public were taken on this important
question, any such a change from the present system
would be either required or sanctioned. That,
perhaps, which would be agreed to by the public
would be some provision for the future, as regards a
constant service, when practicable, to newly-built
houses, or to houses undergoing re-construction; for,
doubtless, as I have already said, a well regulated
constant service is preferable to the intermittent, and
would be adopted but for the expense and serious
inconvenience attending the change. That there is
no lack of water at the present time is shown by the
returns of the water companies; the supply to each
house during the year which has just expired having
been at the rate of 217 gallons daily, or 32.3 gallons
per head of the whole population ; and this is largely
in excess of what is generally considered necessary
for all public, domestic, and manufacturing purposes.
In answer to this it may be said that the distribution
of the water, as at present conducted, is unequal,
and that the waste is enormous; but all experience
c