[Report 1901] / Medical Officer of Health, Isle of Wight R.D.C.

  • Isle of Wight (England). Rural District Council.
Date:
1901
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1901] / Medical Officer of Health, Isle of Wight R.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    purchase of the Freshwater and the Totland Bay water works. This action on their part proves how desirable it is that sanitary authorities while consulting the parishes in the end, should prepare to fulfil their obligations under the law without reference to them. If the isle of Wight Rural Sanitary Authority had accepted the advice to prepare a scheme for giving a water supply to Freshwater many years ago, instead of sheltering themselves behind the plea that the parish did not wish it, and it certainly did not wish it, half of the sinking fund and interest would now be paid, and expensive sewerage would be regarded with equanimity. Obstructive parochialism usually comes from those who have already reached middle age, and it is not right the future should be prejudiced by those who will not reach it. The Totland Bay water works were part of the private undertaking of the Totland Bay Development Company. The Freshwater Water Company conferred benefit on Freshwater, and deserve the reward of their enterprise : but they were badly advised in the position they selected for their works, and although the water is not unwholesome, it is rather brackish and therefore less palatable than the other drinking waters of your district. Another water scheme initiated by you during the year, was that for the supply of Chale and Blackgang from the Upper Greensand on the west of St. Catherine’s Down. It has the great advantage of being a gravitation scheme like those of Brighstone, Shallleet and NVroxall. At the time of writing the Cluilc water supply
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