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(2) If the undertakings are not so acquired, whether additional powers of
control should be exercised by Local or other Authorities; and if so,
what those powers should be.
(3) Whether it is practicable to connect any two or more of the different
systems of supply now administered by the eight Metropolitan Companies;
and if so, by whom, and in what proportion, should the cost of connecting
them be borne, and what are the legal powers necessary to give effect to
any such arrangement.
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The Committee referred the letter to the Chief Sanitary Inspector who presented
a lengthy report upon the "various difficulties and shortcomings in connection with
the water supply of this parish that have come under the notice of the Sanitary
Inspectors."
The Committee thereupon decided to recommend the Vestry to pass the
following resolutions with regard to the terms of reference to the Commission:—
(1) That this Vestry are of opinion that the management of the Water Supply
of the Metropolis should be under one authority and that authority
should be the London County Council.
(2) That unless and until the Water Supply is placed under the management
Of the London County Council this Vestry are of opinion
(a) That the Local Authorities should have the power to approve or
disapprove from a sanitary standpoint, of the cisterns or other
means of storage enforced by the Water Companies, and to
require a sufficient pressure to supply the highest dwellings in
their respective districts.
(b) That Local Authorities should be empowered to expend money
for the purpose of having the water analysed from time to time.
(3) That this Vestry are of opinion that the area of supply of the East
London Waterworks Company in this parish should be transferred to the
New River Company (in accordance with the Vestry's resolution of
September 15th, 1896).
Mr. Alexander was appointed to give evidence on behalf of the Vestry on the lines
of his report.
This report was approved by the Vestry on the 1st March, 1898, and the resolutions
were duly sent to the Commissioners. Mr. Alexander gave evidence and produced
samples of polluted water actually taken from cisterns in Shoreditch (in one of which
was the carcase of a mouse) showing the present insanitary system of domestic water
storage.