§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the pollution of the water supply of Whitehead, county Antrim; whether he is aware that Dr. Clibborn, the inspector, reported that the new reservoir is a standing menace to the health of the inhabitants; and whether the Local Government Board has taken any action in the matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe answer to the first two portions of the question is in the affirmative. Dr. Clibborn's Report, however, was dated the 8th January, 1908, and was communicated by the Local Government Board to the sanitary authority on the 14th January, 1908. Dr. Clibborn now reports that the owner of the waterworks reported to the Council on the 26th February, 1908, that the cause of the pollution in the new reservoir had been discovered, and that he was taking the necessary steps to prevent the possibility of further contamination. Improvements are still being carried out, and in the meantime the water from the new reservoir is not being used. There is no reason to suspect the purity of the water from the old reservoir.