PROCEEDINGS OF THE COTTESWOLD CLUB I39 



obtainable upon the subject was brought before the 

 Commissioners. The question of the suitabiHty of a river 

 hke the Thames that is known to receive pollutions in 

 hundreds of places was discussed in all its bearings. The 

 evidence of Chemists, Bacteriologists, Medical Officers of 

 Health, Engineers, and others was taken, and all went to 

 show that as to quantity there is available from the rivers at 

 present supplying London sufficient at least for a popula- 

 tion of 12,000,000, and as to quality the Commissioners 

 report : " We are strongly of opinion that the water as 

 supplied to the consumer in London is of a very high 

 standard of excellence and purity, and that it is suitable 

 in quality for all household purposes. We are well 

 aware however that a certain prejudice exists against the 

 use of drinking water derived from the Thames and Lea, 

 because these rivers are liable to pollution, however 

 perfect the subsequent purification either by natural or 

 artificial means may be ; but having regard to the experi- 

 ence of London during the last 30 years, and to the 

 evidence given on this subject, we do not believe that any 

 danger exists of the spread of disease by the use of this 

 water, provided that there is adequate storage, and that the 

 water is efficiently filtered before delivery to the 

 consumers." 



All that the Commission is able to suggest in regard 

 to the improvement of the quality of water as supplied to 

 London is that a little greater care should be taken in 

 regard to the purification of the water by increasing the 

 areas of the filters and the subsidence reservoirs, and the 

 idea of going 150 or 200 miles away into Wales to bring 

 water for drinking purposes into London is entirely waived 

 so long as such an excellent supply can be obtained from 

 the noble river upon which the metropolis stands. In 

 the course of the Inquiry many interesting items of 

 information were elicited. It was shown for instance 

 that the mortality from Typhoid Fever in London 



