Supply of JVater to the Metropolis. 409 



including the Borough of Southwark. We found that they are 

 dependent upon three establishments, known as 

 The Lambeth 

 The South London, and 

 The Southwark water-works. 



The first of these is upon the banks of the Thames, between 

 Westminster and Waterloo Bridges, drawing its supplies from the 

 river immediately opposite to the works. They have no reservoir, 

 the water being forced immediately from the river into the mains, 

 and thence distributed to about 16,000 tenants, who consume 

 1,244,000 gallons daily, or nearly 200,000 cubic feet. 



The Vauxhall, or South London water-works are situated in 

 Kennington Lane, and have also an engine on the river at the 

 foot of Vauxhall Bridge. They supply Thames water exclusively, 

 and have reservoirs for the service of their upper engine. The 

 number of their tenants is about 10,000, and the daily consump- 

 tion of water about 1,000,000 of gallons, or about 160,000 cubic 

 feet. 



The Southwark water-works are upon the bank of the river, 

 between Southwark and London Bridges, and derive the whole of 

 their water from the middle of the river opposite to their engines. 

 It appears that about 7000 tenants are supplied, by this establish- 

 ment, with about 720,000 gallons of water, or 115,000 cubic feet 

 daily. 



Each of these establishments has two engines, — the aggregate 

 power of the six may be estimated at about 235 horses. The 

 whole of the water^lvhich they supply amounts to nearly 3,000,000 

 gallons, or 485,000 cubic feet daily, which is distributed among 

 33,000 tenants. 



There appear to be no just complaints respecting the quantity 

 of water furnished by any of these companies, except in cases of 

 fire, when there has occasionally been a serious deficiency. We 

 have inquired into the causes of this, and are induced to' refer it to 

 the want of proper reservoirs for preserving a head of water upon 

 the mains when the engines are not working. On these occasions 

 much time is often lost in sending to the engine of the district, 

 and if the steam be not up, and the fire low, further and fatal delay 

 sometimes occurs. 



In reference to the total amount of the quantity of water re- 

 quired for the daily supply of the inhabitants of the metropolis, 

 and for the use of the various manufactories requiring it, it ap- 

 pears to be about 29,000,000 gallons, or 4,650,000 cubic feet. 



We next directed our attention to such facts respecting the 

 quality and salubrity of the water with which the inhabitants of 

 London are supplied, as were in our judgment best calculated to 

 enable us to form a correct and unprejudiced opinion upon this im- 

 portant question. Being a question, however, in which the interests 

 of a great number of individuals and public bodies are deeply in- 

 volved, and which has been the subject of acrimonious controversy. 



