§ MR. W. R. BOUSFIELD (Hackney, N.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board—(1) whether he can state the hours of the day during and between which the restricted supply now given by the East London Water Company is furnished in the various portions of the district supplied by the Company; (2) whether he is aware that during the limited time for which such restricted supply is furnished the pressure of the water is so small that a sufficient supply for sanitary purposes cannot be obtained; (3) whether he is aware that the cisterns and other fittings in the district of the Company are only adapted to a constant supply, and that the storage capacity of the cisterns is so small that practically no supply of water is available for sanitary purposes during a large part of the time for which the water is turned off; and (4) whether, having regard to the occurrence of these insanitary conditions due to deficient water supply in two successive years, the Local Government Board is prepared to recommend any means for preventing the recurrence of such conditions?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. HENRY CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, SleafordI am informed by the East London Company that the hours of turning on the water vary in the different streets throughout the district, but that in each street the water is supplied at the same time from day to day. The general rule is that the water is turned on as nearly as possible, for three hours in the morning and again for three hours later in the day. In some cases there are additional times of service. With respect to the second question, it is stated by the Company that the pressure at the works is higher than it has ever been before, and that the automatic diagrams of pressure traced at various points show a good and sufficient force. Further, that if any deficient pressure exists it can only occur where there is great waste in any particular street, and this must be due to the fact that all the taps, or the majority of them are left running at one time. No complaints, it is stated, have been made to the Company in this matter. With respect to the third question, a very large proportion of the dwellings in the district supplied by the Company have no proper storage cisterns, and where there are no such cisterns it is the case that there is no supply of water available for sanitary purposes during a large portion of the time when the water is turned off except waste water and such supply as may be provided by storage. The best recommendation I think that I can make to prevent a recurrence of this calamity is the speedy completion of the additional works which were contemplated by the Company in 1893, but which were arrested at that time by the action of Parliament.
§ MR. HARRY SAMUEL (Tower Hamlets, Limehouse)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, whether he is aware that the customers of the East London Water Company who pay for the water they consume, as registered by meter, have had and still have an abundant supply whereas those who pay by rate and it impossible to obtain sufficient for ordinary domestic purposes; and whether he can take any steps in the matter?
§ MR. CHAPLINI am informed by the East London Water Works Company that there is no foundation for the suggestion in the Question of my hon. Friend. The Company state that the meter supplies from the "service mains" are treated precisely in the same way as the supply upon fixed rates, and are subject to the same restrictions as to hours of supply. Both meter services and any others on the leading or fire mains, which are constantly charged, have necessarily an uninterrupted service.
§ MR. E. H. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, whether he is aware that there is no improvement in the supply of water to the inhabitants of East London by the East London Water Company, that illness is becoming rife in the poorer districts, and that proper Hushing of the sewers is urgently needed; and, whether he can state why the East London Company does not obtain a supply of water from the New River Company?
§ MR. CHAPLINIn reply to a telegram addressed to the Company after seeing the hon. Member's Question this morning, I am informed that no restrictions have been placed upon the vestries as regards the supply of water for the flushing of the sewers, that as regards the New River no answer has yet been received to the second application of the East London Company, and that they have no knowledge of any increased sickness due to the restricted supply of water. I may add that I have no information to that effect either.
COLONEL LOCK WOOD (Essex, Epping)asked whether it was not a fact that the company were prepared to fix additional standpipes whenever and wherever required by the local authorities?
§ MR. CHAPLINThe company have signified their perfect readiness to do so wherever required.