The Sun.
London, England, 1850-06-06 00:00:00

"QUANTITY REQUISITE.

"In respect to the quantity of water actually supplied
and to the quantity needed for the domestic use of the
metropolitan population, and fur other purposes, we hare
to report—
" That in consequence of statements made by several
of the companies of the quantities of the water which
they pumped fir the use of the metropolis, quantities.
which appeared to be incensistent with the known
habits of the population and the apparent amount of
water consumed for domestic purposes, we deemed it
desirable to cause the consumption of water in different
districts, by different classes of the population, to be
gauged front the cisterns and butts, and also the run
through iause-drains and sewers on days when there was
no rainf4ll.
" From these observations it appears—
" 21. That, whereas it was returned, in 1832, that the
avorage quantity of water delivered to their respective
customers by the several companies was 220 gallons
per house or dwelling ; and more recently, as
returned to us, was stated to be 164 gallons
per house or dwelling ; that • is, 44 millions
.of
gallons per diem for the whole of the metropolis—
making allowances for a considerable and injurious
waste of water by permeation through badly constructed
channels, the results of the gaugings of the run of water
through drains and sewers, on days when there is no
rainfall, do not appear materially to differ from the later
statements of the several companies as to the quantity of
water which is actually pumped into their several dis-
tricts; while from the gaugings of the quantities of water
consumed from cisterns and butts during the intervals
of the intermittent delivery, and from the capacity of
the storage receptacles themselves, it appears that the
average daily consumption does not exceed five gallons
per head on the population; and that, with all allow-
ances for the quantities used for manufactures, steam-
engines, and other purposes, the gross quantity con-
sumed does not exceed one-halt of the quantity deli-
vered.

22. That this, waste is a consequence of the preient
intermittent mode of supply; and dues not take place to
any suoh extent where the constant system of supply
has been substituted; and probably may be prevented
altogether where the 'house service•pipes are property
provided and arranged under a system of combined
works.

" 23. That this waste, as now ascertained by official
investigation, appears to have gone on without any know-
ledge of its great amount on the part of the companies,
although it involves a double expense of pumping, and
extends, as above stated, the whole of the annual rainfall
on the coveied-firea of the metropolis.
" 24. That this waste is of no Equivalent benefit for
the cleansing of house drains and sewers, inasmuch as,
from the inaptitude of these works, owing to their bad
construction, for the discharge of water containing matter
in suspension, accumulations of decomposing matters do
take place in them, to the great injury of the public
health; accumulations which, notwithstanding the flow
of the waste water through them, require to be cleared
away by hand labour, by flushing, or by other means.
" 25. That the. waste water, having sewer matter
mixed up with it, permeates through the brick drains
and sewers, saturates the sites of houses with polluted
water, and keeps up an excess of moisture, which, rising
into the porous and absorbing walls and plaster of the
houses, contributes to render them damp even in tLe
driest weather.

" 26. That this excess of moisture is aggravated by
the extreme defective drainage in the low-lying and
worst-conditioned districts, where, as has been already
stated, epidemic disease is almost invariably present, and
where the recent visitation of epidemic cholera has been
the most severe.

" 27. That, taking into consideration the actual do-
mestic consumption of water by the population of the
metropolis, regarding also the extent of the increased
supplies needed for the various purposes of sanitary im-
provement not hitherto contemplated by companies, nor
included in new schemes, all the engineering estimates
put forward by private companies of the quantity of
water required for the service of the population appear
to be greatly in excess.
" 28. That there appears to be no probable demand
for a general average consumption of water exceeding
the present rate for houses of the higher class—namely,
about 75 gallons per house per diem, or in all 22 mil-

lions of gallons per diem, inclusive of the increased sup-
ply which will be necessary on the abolition of cesspools;
and that, estimating the additional requirements for
baths, for street cleansing, for large consumers, for fires,
and for other purposes, the whole quantity of water
needed under an improved system of distribution does not
exceed 40 millions of gallon' per diem.
" 29. That it appears that the resolutions of parochial
meetings and the statethents of the promoters of new
companies, alleging a deficiency in the total amount of
water already introduced, and proposing to bring in ad-
ditional supplies, have been made in ignorance of the
actual present domestic consumption of the population,
and of what is really needed, according to the best in-
formation, for the execution of practical measures of
sanitary improvement.
"30. That the several schemes which propose to bring
in more water in addition to the quantity now wasted,
and to make such additions mainly from the same sources
which supply the water now generally consumed, with-
out reference to improvements in the systm of domestic
distribution, and without combination with improved
drainage works for the removal of the waste water,
would aggravate the existing sanitary evils, and increase
the excessive charges" already incurred for the defective
works constructed in ignorance.
the"
increasedavin particularly
quantities
of an
ing of drains and- sewers, and the working
im-
proved system of drainage, we find—
as that at
find—
"3l. That upon a system of drainage
decomposing sewers, which cause accumulationrs
present in use, consisting of brick
f theo
intermittent de-
posits, there would be required,
.for
considerable
re-
moval of those accumulations
oefxaseinaitnee;ithe requiredstatfeonir statements
flaussbt-
additions to the present quantities p
phi
to suchuws -t de rr a
pumpedi n s and
in for the supply of the
metropolis;yofbut that any system
which occasions the accumu-
lationof house or main draiese
reefuwse,iand renders necessary the
itself highly injurious
of decomposingto the public health, and ought to
That regent trial works have placed beyond doubt
tbe"3solundne,s of the conclusion of the Metripolittso
cboenptrinevueanntceed.of the practice of intermittent flushing, is in
Sanitary Commissioners, namely, that systematically
adjusted tubular house drains and sewers are kept clear
of deport by the force of the soil or sewer water alone,
when conducted away at proper levels, and that no addi-
tion of water is required for this purpose.
" SEWERAGE.
" With reference to those extensive districts of the
metropolis the levels of which are below high-water mark,
where the sewer water is at present penned up until it
can be discharged at low water, acid where putrefying
deposit is accumulated in the sewers in consequence of
the flow being arrested during high water, it appears—
" 33. That it will require no addition of water, and
certainly no increased expense in pumping, to cause
such a continuous flow of the waste water as will pre-
vent deposit, and that this prevention of deposit is the
true object to be aimed at, and not the supply of addi-
tional quantities of water to remove, by flushing, de-
posit which ought not to have been allowed to accu-
mulate.

"34. That besides the great injury to the public
health from the ponding up of sewer water, and the con-
sequent conversion of large expansive sewers and reaer-
voirs into extended cesspools; and besides the waste of
water and the expen,e of pumping it into the district for
the removal of accumulations, the intermittent system
of draining the districts below high water-mark by
gravitation, without the aid of pumping for their relict,
must necessitate the continued pollution of the Thames,
and obstruct or delay the application of the refuse as
manure.
"35. That, except in extreme cases of absolute de-
ficiency, the pumping in of additional supplies of water,
before properly constructed house drains are Lid down
for its removal, would, by increasing dsmp, still further
deteriorate the sanitary condition of the populi,tion, and
occasion still greater dilapidations and injury to tene-
ments.

That the separation of works of pipe-wa•er sup.
ply from those fcr the removal ot waste watt r occasions
delay in the execution of works if primary importance
for sanitary improvements as well as increased expense.
"37. That it appears that While the expense of

sewers and drains is reduced by an improved tibuls•
system of drainage, the expense of earthwork, ot ii
ging, and of making good, is one-half of the total g es.-
pence, and that, therefore, the separate laying down of
water-mains and drainage mains must frequently cause
this last portion of the expense to be materially in-
creased.
" 38. That, on these ground:, and on the principles
already recognised, the only way of securing systematic
works with economy and efficiency, as well as with
the least delay, will be to consolidate under one and the
same pub;ic management the whole works for the supply
of water, and for the drainage of the metropelis.
" 39. That it is essential to the economy and efficiency
of all such works that the whole distributary apps, alp,
small as well as large, service pipes, and house dra-na,
together with water-mains, public drains and sJ wets,
ahou:d be laid down under one system, and lola in no-
tion under one supervision.
"40. That it app. ars from the exarninati-n of im-
proved works which have ben in op, ration fur a st_ffi-
eient lenf.,th of time to test tlicir effiescy. ate: from ch -
tailed etitimAtcs made by cliff..reht comp' tett, engii.eurirg
fllcers up n tiou-e It -house ex,thin.ttotis t f lhe wort-t 7
co:iditio:,,d di -trie:s. ,ht.t ettry:bii.eil works. e. rriprivirg a
wcia-ptpa for tie service of eitch i ou,e, e ,it:k,-. 0r,i.,,
,1:1:1 waste ppe, and a soil pan or wmer el‘ ~set, bpparLtu,,,
may be laid tl..Wil vi,,,1 t‘tvi.liiired in Letiolt at Aet 6,,
not excel ding, (II the awl Ili, e, ti- roe- Wipe: c, per
wtelc, or le as than half the tivtiae . xpt-nse of eft au. it g
the ek,:•ispo.,l for any sin .;le tenem: nt.
41. That the general iurv,y being now tsbfficieffily
adtanctd, such wo:ks may be ixt cuted for separate di,.
triets without wailing for 'he completion of auy gel, era!
measure or plan of main sp%ers.
"PROVISI,S FOR SUPPLY.
. __

" Having corfidertd the t vult pee iu relation t the
qua!ittes of the water rkquiite fur the supply of the
metropolis, we find—

`• 43. That in addition to the properties of clearness
and freedom from animal .and vegetable matter which is
apt to pass into decomposition and to prove injurious to
health, one of the most essential properties of water is
softr egg, or freedom from lime and other substances pro-
ductive of what is term• d hardness.
" 43. That having made carefe,l and extensiveinquiti a,
with the aid of the department of the .Ordnance
Geological Survey, as to the most suitable sources of
supply, having had those districts which appeared t r be
the most eligible specially examine l by our engineering
inspectors, with other aid, we find, upon their unanimous
testimony, that from a tract of upwards of 150 square
miles of gathering ground, there is derivable a supply
nearly double the present actual domestic consumption,
of a quality varying from one-tenth to one-third the
hardness of Thames water, and of a purity quailing
the general average r•f the improved soft water supplies
of the districts which have yet been brought under ex-
amination.

"44. That water obtained from siliceous sands, such
as those which cover the tract above described, is proved
to be of a quality only equalled is excellence by the
water derived from mountain grantite rocks, or slate
rocks, or other surfaces of the primitive formations.
"45. That upon the best estimates which have been
obtained, this water may be brought to the metropolis,
and delivered pure and filtered into each house on the
system of constant supply at high pressure, and at the
same time, on the plan of combined works, the waste
water may be removed by a proper system of drainage,
at a rate not exceeding a❑ average of 3d. or 4d. per
week per house, or from 30 to 50 per cent. less than the
present charges for defective water supply alone.
"4C. That the saving in soap, from the use of soft
water in the operation of washing (the expense of wash-
ing line❑ and other clothes being estimated at an average
of Is. per head p-r week to be nearly 5,000,000!. per
annum of the population of the metropolis) would be
probably equivalent to the whole of the money expended
at present in the water supply.
"47. That the saving in tea from the use of soft water
may be estimated at about one-third of the tea con-
sumed in the metropolis.
"4S. That other culinary operations would be much
facilitated by the use of soft water.
"49. That soft wafer is peculiarly suitable for baths
as well as for washing.
" 50. That sef. water would prevent those incrusta-
tions and d,po,its in boilers and pipes which render
ha-d water unsuitable for manufacturing purposes.
" RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMISSION.
" We therefore advise the rejection of alt the schemes
promoted by water companies or by parochial vestries
and associations which adopt, as sources of supply, the
Thames stud its tributaries of the same degree of hard-
ness, %ells and springs from the chalk or other forma-
tions which impart the quality of hardness.
" And further, whilst we believe that Thames water
taken up beyond the influence of the metropolitan drain-
age and filtered, may be used without injury to the pub-
lic health, and may be employed temporarily until other
sources can be laid under contribution, we advise that
Themes water, and other water of like quality us to
hardness, be as early as practicable abandoned.
" In respect to the existing companies which have no
property in any sources of water supply, but whose
capital is invested in engines and distributory apparatus,
we recommend that their plants should be pureha-ed,
but we are not prepared to recommend any pre-appointed
trims of purchase; and we find—

" 51. That if the management of the water-
supply be consolidated, five, if not six, out of
the seven principle pumping establishments may he
diicontinued, and an expenditure of from 80,0001.
to 100,0001. per annum saved by consolidating
the management of these works and connecting
them with combined works of than:lege and sewerage,
and that further reductions may be made in the expenses
of these latter estallishments.

" Having considered, as required under the Metro-
politan Sanit%ry Commission, the means of ,upplying
water to extinguish fires, and having examined the
practical experieAce of improved I%oiks in relation
thereto in other towns, v,e find—

" 52. That the hide quacy of the supplies of water
under the intermittent system occasions greet danger to
life and property, but that by arrangements which are
practicable under a system of constant supply at high
pressure, the whole force of the ssat-q- in the mains may
be brought to bear at any point for extinguishing fires in
from one to five minutes, or in about one-fourth the time
that it takes the bt st appointed fire-engines now LO gain
the spot and be in action after the alarm of fire has been
given.
" 53. That, judging from the experience of various
paces where improved arrangements have been put in
practice, it appears that by the general adoption of these
arrangements more than two thirds of the fires which
now occur in the metropolis may be extinguished before
any extensive damage takes place.
54. That the insurance risks on life and property
may be diminished in a yet greater proportion.
" 55. That the crime of incendiarism may be checked,
and that these consequences alone, wore there no other
advantages to be obtained, would render it worth while
to make the change from the intermittent to the constant
system.
" 56. That these advantages may be best given by the
same means by which a more perfect and cheaper surface
cleansing of courts, alloys, foot-pavements, and carriage
ways than that by hand may be effected, namely, by jets
of water distributed under high pressure.
" PROPOSED PLAN FOR THE METROPOLIS.
provisions
gror consideredex e
execution
ttihoen
"mostoth the required a-dniwiuoirskt-Tive
we
concur in the principles recommended by the Commission
of inquiry as to the best means c f improving the health
of too r.s, and confirmed by Parliament in the Public

into e
administrative
11t,",e51t7h. Act,
That
hvtiz.e:
—works of eater supply, and those for
drainage, or the
be carried
body. aol noel asnodi i t(h) re
ws
aams tot'
"58. But that the magnitude of the metropolis, the
ffercetmbo;
diversity of its local jurisdiction. and its position as the
seat of Government, and the ()et asional reside-nee of per-
sons from all parts of the empire, the large/ minorities
ng protection, and the uneccustemed inagni ude
°
requisite outlay, render distinct And special provi-
sriftrg, theili r
sjjnecessery for it, and that the amendments re quireti
may be most speedily, safely, and eeo:t m caily t xeeuted
by special or by provisional erre gt use int,
"59. That a general surrey under the direction of
the engineers of the Board of Oldnanco, and other sur-
veys, trial works, and prepart.tions essential to the sale
and economical execution of combined works of water
supply have bet n completed, untter the direction of the
Consolidated Metropolitan Sewers Commission, such
combined works tray now be executed and maintained
at a lower rate of charge per house than has heretofore
been incurred for any of their various Wenches executed
aepzrately.

" 60. That the initiation and e-x.-eutive direction i f
such works by members, however highly qualified, giv-
ing casual attendance at meeting:4 held we, kly or f„rt•
nightly, causes grievous delay, and that in care. in whit h
measures fur preventing disease or arresting its progress

require the utmost promptitude.
"61. That considering the pest loss and suffi ring in-
curred by the delay in carrying the required works into
execution, it will be expedient to confide their further
pri partition and superintendence to a few competent
and responsible officers, of whom a ceriain propot-
lion should be piiid, giving their whole time and at-
tention to the subject. That the whole of these works
be carried into execution by contract upon open tee.
ders, not merely ter the co structien of the works, but
for maintaining them in good action and repair fur let ras
st i epsr proposed s suggestion
e d for t
of years.
giving publicity to plans and estimates of
62. That the means provided by the Public Health
sanitary and tli pn:
_ ptAeecia,tdl
,efbder workex tena ,d we
di t
tho otrphpeowr tournki
improvement of the metropults.
~ 63, That the proper execution of the works will be
best guaranteed, the ri sponsibility of the persons
charged with their execution best
of
the ensured, and the in-
terest of the poorest classespopulation (tho inha-
biiants of the most depressed districts, who, though they
pay no direct local rates, pay heavy ), will be beat
guarded in the special case' metropolis,ottheitat events
provisionally, by the direct control of Parliament; the

importance of the proposed measures to the health, con-
venience and
comfort of large masses of the population,
the magnitude of the required constructions, the amount
of outlay, and the dangers of failure and waste, as well
as delay, being, from experience of separate works al-
ready constructed, such es to render it necessary that
the highest order of continued and undivided attention
and responsibility should be scent., d fur the execution of
such works as tins report recommends:,

TRADE LAITY SPAT S.—S PANISII SHIPS.—The col-
lectors and comptrollers of tlift.Customs' department at the
several ports thr. ughout the alugdorn have received direc-
tions from the Cominissioners to transmit to the RegiArar-
General for Shipping, with all practicable dispaich, the fol-
lowing account, viz. return of the ni mber and tonnage
of Si.anis,i v, ssels which entered inwards and clewed out-
w iris at their respective purls (;uring the years 1848 and
IS 9, dis!inguishing the ports, the entries from 'be clear-
ances, the vessels in ballast from those with cargoes, and
also those clearing with cargoes of fish.