392 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE, ETC. 
subject, latterly with the voluntary co-operation of the British Waterworks 
Association ; and through the Advisory Committee on Water has conducted 
investigations of special branches of the subject. 
To this extent the original demand of the Select. Committee in 1910, 
referred to below, for reliable information has been met. 
As regards the essential subjects of topography, geology and rainfall; the 
Government has provided a special department for each, and the Ministry 
has the benefit of their assistance and advice when required. 
All recent consideration of the subject, however, points to the fact that 
the available data are deficient in two important respects, which are becoming 
increasingly urgent: viz. reliable information as to the volume of water 
obtainable and available for public supplies in different areas—(a) from under- 
ground sources, and (d) from surface sources. As the former become used 
up or diminish, increasing reliance must be placed on the latter. 
DEMAND FOR A WATER SURVEY. 
Demands for a comprehensive inland water survey have been made so 
frequently that it is hardly necessary to recapitulate them, but one 
authoritative statement on the subject may be quoted as a starting-point. 
A Joint Select Committee of both Houses of Parliament appointed to 
consider the Water Supplies Protection Bill, 1910, stated, inter alia, that 
“in view of the lack of reliable information as to water supply, especially 
from underground sources, and the manner in which local supplies were 
utilised, there was urgent need for a comprehensive survey of the water 
supply of the country and for the adoption of measures to conserve and 
dispose of water to the best advantage.’ 
As the result of the Committee’s report, no further action was taken on the 
Bill, but later in the same year a return as to water undertakings in England 
and Wales was ordered by Parliament. 
RETURN AS TO WATER UNDERTAKINGS, 1914. 
This return was compiled by the Local Government Board, as the result 
of over 3,000 schedules sent out during 1911-13, and the information was 
for the most part correct up to January 1914. Amongst the particulars 
which could not be checked, however, are ‘ the quantity of water derived 
from each source and the additional amounts obtainable.’ 
With this return the Local Government Board issued a Preliminary 
Memorandum, from which these notes are largely derived. 
In this return the undertakings are arranged in five sections, and the 
numbers of undertakings were as follows :— 
: » Oe : No. of 
Section. Description of Undertaking. Undertalivigs: 
ik Separate Local Authorities . 786 
II. Joint Boards and Joint Committees of Local 34. and 
Authorities J | M.W. Bd. 
III. Companies with Statutory Powers “ ‘ 200 
IV. Companies without Statutory Powers . . 84 
Vv. Private Proprietors . y ; 3 é 1,055 
