Lords Sitting of 11 June 1827

SUPPLY OF WATER TO THE METROPOLIS—GRAND JUNCTION COMPANY.
Lord Wharncliffepresented a petition from the Grand Junction Water Works Company, praying for inquiry. His lordship stated, that he had formerly presented
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a petition, complaining of the supply of water to the western parts of the metropolis, which petition was principally directed against the company which now came to their lordships also asking for inquiry. The petition was read and laid on the table. His lordship then stated, that in consequence of these petitions, he would move, that an humble Address be presented to his majesty, praying his majesty to order a commission to be issued to inquire into the supply of water to the metropolis. For a considerable time past, the inhabitants of the west end of the town had made complaints of the impure quality of the water, and of the high rate they were made to pay for the supply. At a public meeting, at which a petition to both Houses of Parliament had been agreed to, samples of the water had been exhibited; and, if the general supply were like the samples, it must be very impure. The subject was of great importance to all the inhabitants of London. He would not say that the Grand Junction Canal Company had misconducted themselves, but the complaints made of the unwholesomeness of the water they supplied, and the extravagance of their terms, showed the necessity for making some inquiry. One source of the strong feeling manifested against the company was, their having undertaken to bring water from the Grand Junction Canal, which they had found inadequate, and then they had had recourse to the Thames. They had there built what was called a Dolphin, near Chelsea, from whence they had taken the water, and pumping it up to Paddington, had distributed it through the town. Now, it was said, that the Dolphin was so close to the great Ranelagh common sewer, that it could not be otherwise than contaminated. Whether any objection could be made against the water of the Thames itself, as being unfit for domestic purposes, he did not say. For many years London had been supplied with Thames water; the London waterworks, and the Chelsea water-works, both, he believed, took their supply from the river, but it should be remembered, that the river was formerly not so impure as at present. There were now, he believed, not less than ninety common sewers discharging their contents into the Thames, between Battersea-bridge and the Tower. It would naturally seem that, with this sort of discharge running into it, the Thames water could not be very fit for

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use. On a question of this vital importance, he thought it the duty of government to institute an inquiry, and ascertain whether the complaints had any foundation or not; and if they were well founded, he thought government ought to take steps to remove them. He had at first thought the inquiry ought to be a parliamentary one; but considering the nature of the subject, and that the investigation must be, in a great measure, scientific, he had been induced to change his opinion; and he should move an humble Address to his majesty to appoint a commission.
Earl Grosvenorsupported the motion, as equally necessary for the reputation of the Grand Junction Company as the good of the inhabitants. The company, he understood, had found it impracticable to purify the canal water, which had induced them to have recourse to the Thames. By employing several reservoirs, which they were then constructing, they expected to purify the Thames water, so as to make it fit for all domestic purposes.
The Earl of Lauderdalecompletely concurred with the noble mover in all his observations. He had no doubt that a commission would, in the first instance, be the best method of inquiring; but he would not say, when the Report of the commission was laid before them, that their lordships ought not then to institute an inquiry. When the Water Companies had come to parliament to ask for their exclusive privileges, they had all asked them on the ground of competition being beneficial to the inhabitants; but they had scarcely got their charters, when they entered into an agreement to divide the metropolis into districts, and allotted one to each company. This proceeding his lordship characterised as a gross fraud on parliament, and the public. Since this arrangement had been made, the charge for the supply of water had been increased fourfold, and the supply had become a great deal worse.
The motion was agreed to.