Metropolis Water Act 1852
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | 1852 c. 84 |
(15 & 16 Vict.) C A P. LXXXIV.
[1st July 1852]
'WHEREAS it is expedient to make Provision for securing the Supply to the Metropolis of pure and wholesome Water, and otherwise to make further and better Provision in relation to the Water Supply of the Metropolis:' Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, as follows:
I Restriction as to Sources of Supply of Water to the Metropolis.
I. From and after the Thirty-first Day ofAugust One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five it shall not be lawful for any Company supplying the Metropolis or any Part thereof with Water for domestic Use, except the Governor and Company of Chelsea Waterworks, to take any Water for such Purpose from any Part of the River Thames below Teddington Lock, or from any Part of any of the tributary Rivers or Streams of the River Thames below the highest Point where the Tide flows in such tributary Rivers and Streams respectively; and from and after the Thirty-first Day of August One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six it shall not be lawful for the said Governor and Company of Chelsea Waterworks to take any Water for domestic Use from any Part of the River Thames below Teddington Lock.
II Reservoirs within a limited Distance to be covered.
II. From and after the Thirty-first Day ofAugust One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five every Reservoir within a Distance in a straight Line from Saint Paul's Cathedral in the City of London of not more than Five Miles, in which Water for the Supply for domestic Use of the Metropolis or any Part thereof is stored or kept by any Company, shall be roofed in or otherwise covered over: Provided always, that this Provision shall not extend to any Reservoir the Water from which is subjected by the Company to efficient Filtration after it is discharged from such Reservoir, and before it is passed into the Mains or Pipes of the Company for Distribution, or to any Reservoir the whole of the Water from which is distributed through distinct Mains or Pipes for other than domestic Purposes, nor to any Reservoir whatever the Water stored in which shall be used exclusively for other than domestic Purposes.
III Water not to be brought within a limited Distance in open Aqueducts.
III. From and after the Thirty-first Day ofDecember One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, no Water shall be brought or conducted within the Metropolis by any Company for the Purpose of domestic Use otherwise than through Pipes or through covered Aqueducts, unless the same shall be afterwards filtered before Distribution.
IV Every Company to filter all Water supplied by them for domestic Use.
IV. From and after the Thirty-first Day ofDecember One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, every Company shall effectually filter all Water supplied by them within the Metropolis for domestic Use, before the same shall pass into the Pipes for Distribution, excepting any Water which may be pumped from Wells into a covered Reservoir or Aqueduct, without Exposure to the Atmosphere, and which shall not be afterwards mixed with unfiltered Water.
V Company to give Notice to Board of Trade before resorting to new Sources of Supply, who may appoint an Inspector to report.
V. Three Months before any Company shall resort to any new Source of Supply, such Company shall give Notice in Writing thereof to the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Plantations, herein-after called the Board of Trade, and thereupon, within One Month after Receipt of such Notice, the said Board of Trade, shall, if they think fit, appoint a competent Person as an Inspector, who shall report with respect to any Sources then specially authorized by Parliament, whether the Directions of the Special Act have been complied with in reference thereto, and with respect to any new Sources not specially authorized by Parliament, whether the same are capable of supplying good and wholesome Water for domestic Purposes.
VI Inspector to give Notice to Companies of his Intention to visit new Sources.
VI. The Inspector so appointed as aforesaid shall within Ten Days after such Appointment give Notice in Writing to the Company thereof, and of the Time at which he proposes to visit and inspect the said Sources, and thereupon, in order to enable him to make such Report as aforesaid, it shall be lawful for the said Inspector to enter the Lands wherein such Sources respectively are situate, and to examine and make Inquiry touching the Premises.
VII Board of Trade to certify their Approval or Disapproval of new Sources.
VII. The Board of Trade shall, within Twenty-one Days after the Receipt from the said Inspector of his Report, send to such Company with respect to any such new Sources of Supply not specially authorized by Parliament a Certificate in Writing of their Approval or Disapproval thereof, and with respect to any such Sources as shall then be specially authorized by Parliament a Notice in Writing stating whether in the Judgment of the said Board of Trade the Directions of the Special Act have in reference thereto been complied with.
VIII If Board of Trade disapprove, Company not to use new Source of Supply.
VIII. After the Company shall have received a Certificate that the said Board of Trade disapproves of any such new Source of Supply not specially authorized by Parliament as aforesaid, it shall not be lawful for the Company to use the said Source, and after Receipt of such Notice as aforesaid that in the Judgment of the said Board of Trade the Directions of the Special Act with reference to any Sources then specially authorized by Parliament have not been complied with, it shall not be lawful for the Company, before complying with such Directions with reference to such Source, to use the same
IX On Complain as to Quantity and Quality, Board of Trade may appoint a Person to inquire and report.
IX. If at any Time Complaint as to the Quantity or Quality of the Water supplied by any Company for domestic Use be made to the Board of Trade by Memorial in Writing signed by not less than Twenty Inhabitant Householders paying Rents for and supplied with Water by the Company, it shall be lawful for the Board of Trade, at any Time within One Month after the Receipt of such Complaint, to appoint a competent Person to inquire into and concerning the Grounds of such Complaint, and to report to the Board of Trade thereon.
X Powers of Person appointed.
X. The Person so appointed as aforesaid shall, within Three Days after such Appointment, give Notice thereof in Writing to the Company, and after such Notice as aforesaid he shall have Power to inspect and examine the Waterworks of the Company, and to inquire into and concerning the Grounds of such Complaint; and the Company and their Officers shall afford all reasonable Facilities for such Inspection, Examination, and Inquiry.
XI On obstructing Inspector.
XI. Any Person obstructing such Inspector in the due Prosecution of such Inspection, Examination, or Inquiry, shall forfeit and pay any Sum not exceeding Ten Pounds.
XII Notice if Complaint well founded.
XII. If after Receipt of such Report it shall appear to the Board of Trade that the said Complaint is well founded, the Board of Trade shall give Notice thereof in Writing to the Company.
XIII Company to remove Ground of Complaint.
XIII. After the Receipt of such Notice the Company shall and they are hereby required within a reasonable Time to remove the Grounds of such Complaint.
XIV Engines to consume their own Smoke.
XIV. Every Steam Engine, Furnace, or other Work in which Coals which produce Smoke during Combustion shall be consumed by any Company for the Purpose of the Waterworks shall be constructed on the most effectual Principle for consuming its own Smoke.
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