Report of the Health of London Association on the sanitary condition of the metropolis; : being a digest of the information contained in the replies returned to three thousand lists of queries, which were circulated amongst clergymen, medical men, solicitors, surveyors, architects, engineers, parochial officers, and the public.

  • Health of Towns Association (London, England)
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Health of London Association on the sanitary condition of the metropolis; : being a digest of the information contained in the replies returned to three thousand lists of queries, which were circulated amongst clergymen, medical men, solicitors, surveyors, architects, engineers, parochial officers, and the public. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    47/70 (page 45)
    poor, is extravagantly dear; and that, so long as the water companies are allowed to go on uncontrolled by the Govern¬ ment, so long will the public have to complain of their exor¬ bitant charges. It is also stated that the water companies do not exact from the public the full amount they have the power to demand. The ordinary charge is 5s. a room, but they may exact from the public a per centage upon the rent of the house.* It is stated that the supply of water to all the population may be carried out at a lower rate than the cost of maintaining pumps. The average repairs of a pump are about 5s. per annum; and, including interest, depreciation, and repairs, it generally costs from 15s. to 20s. per annum. A company would be able to supply water to every tene¬ ment for 4s. 6d. a year, or Id. a week, under a general rate, so that it would not be worth the labour of the poorest per¬ son to go and fetch it for nothing. If the supply of water in Manchester were universal, a house at £5 per annum rent might be supplied with water, at high pressure, at 4s. 9d. per annum; for houses under £10, at 6s. I id., on an average, for every house ; and for houses above £10 and below £20, at 9s. 2d. per annum. For Id. a week additional rental, the poor at Nottingham have an unlimited supply of water! The constant supply is the most economical and the best. [25.] Does its scarcity conduce to uncleanliness and ill-health, and are the comforts of the poor greatly abridged in consequence ? [26.] Is it not the duty of the Legislature to re¬ move every impediment to an abundant sup¬ ply of water, and to protect the public from high and unreasonable charges ? By universal consent it is admitted that the scarcity of water conduces to uncleanliness and ill-health, and that the * Table of rates which the East London Water Company are empowered to make :— £20 per annum, not exceeding £7§ per cent. 40 ,, ,, 7 ,, 60 ,, ,, 6| ,, 80 ,, ,, 6 ,, 100 „ „ 5| „ All above „ „ 5 „ As usual in all taxation, the poor are called upon to pay more in proportion than, the rich.