INLAND WATER SURVEY 393 
This return is now nearly twenty years old. For the provision of reliable 
and up-to-date statistics arrangements exist between the Ministry of 
Health and the British Waterworks Association, under which the Associa- 
tion now collect and publish statistical information. The third edition of 
the British Water Works Year Book and Directory contains a large amount 
of useful information respecting 871 undertakings, including Ireland. 
Since 1914 very extensive developments of waterworks have taken place 
throughout the country, and are constantly taking place, but though some 
new undertakings have been established, these developments are chiefly in 
the nature of extensions of existing undertakings, and the above figures 
sufficiently indicate the magnitude of the subject. 
The 1914 Memorandum states that ‘ out of 12,869 parishes in rural 
districts, 4,874 had a piped supply to some at least of their houses.’ This 
number has since been very largely increased, especially by comprehensive 
schemes for groups of parishes ; but much yet remains to be done to keep 
pace with the increased demand consequent upon improved standards of 
sanitation, such as W.C.’s, baths and hot and cold water supplies laid on to 
houses, which have greatly increased the consumption per head throughout 
the country. 
The same memorandum states : ‘ the Return may be regarded as the first 
instalment of the detailed and comprehensive investigation of the whole 
_ subject of surface and underground water supplies which has been recom- 
mended by various Royal Commissions and Committees.’ 
MINIstry OF HEALTH WATER SURVEY AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
The outbreak of the war shortly after the publication of the 1914 Return 
put a stop to further investigation for the time being. 
Following the First Report of the Board of Trade Water Power Resources 
Committee, published in 1921, the Ministry of Health established a Water 
Survey for the compilation of data relating to water undertakings in greater 
detail than in the 1914 Return, including gaugings of springs where avail- 
able. This, though of great use in the department, is of limited scope and 
confined to data obtainable from the respective undertakings, no special 
staff being available for making special investigations. ‘The survey is not 
available in any published form. 
The Minister also appointed an Advisory Committee on Water who have 
published a number of Reports, including :— 
(a) On Measures for the Protection of Underground Water (1925). 
(6) Report of Legislation Sub-committee (1929). 
(c) On Rural Water Supplies (1929). 
(d) On the Assessment of Compensation Water. 
The Committee, in 1930, appointed a Sub-committee on the subject of 
river gauging ; the work of this Sub-committee is, however, at present in 
abeyance owing to the urgent need for national economy. 
The subject of underground water, on which the Select Committee of 
1910 laid emphasis, is dealt with in a separate memorandum, by Dr. Bernard 
Smith, and it is only necessary here to mention the chief points referred to 
in the above Report (a), viz. the interference with underground water 
caused by mining operations and pumping; the waste of water arising 
from such pumping and from overflowing boreholes ; and the need for the 
protection of underground water from contamination. 
As regards legislation, the chief point affecting a water supply is probably 
that relating to the powers of a local authority operating under the Public 
P 
