LONDON'S. WATER SUPPLY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 95, 15 January 1908, Page 5

LONDON'S. WATER SUPPLY.

"London is faco to fncc.witli the possibility that-fifty .years- lienc'c its -presentsources of water supply will lie'capable of 110 further expansion," says a report which its Works awl Stores- Committee have just presented to tho Metropolitan Water Board. The Committee give the following, estimates ..... .

The present sources of supply are:— ! • Gallons. " River Thames X 28,512,635 > Itiver Lee: Eastern District 23,971,260 ' jN'ew Kivcr District ...20,179,030 • 4},150,290 i Springs and Wells: i lice Valley ... ... ... 29,611,819 Kent District • 20,270,091) Southern District... ... l-; 473,855 ' — 51,335,-797 '' Hanworth Gravel lieds ... ... 501,008 - llampstead and Highgatc Ponds > . Jiioii-domcstie) ... ... . 87,893 '• Total ... .... 225,000,083 > ji' "Of the futuro requirements set forth in 5 olie of. the above tabular statements," says 1 the "Standard," "tho chief engineer esii- : mates that in tho year 'lplC a quantity of | 106.5 million gallons a day will be obtainable : from all the present sources other than the Thames, which figure can be subsequently in--3 creased to only 120 million gallons a day— " an.incrcaso of 13.5 million gallons.' On tho other hand, however, it is anticipated that the ■ supplies from the Thames may be increased 1 from 174.5 million gallons in tho year 1916 . to 450 miilion gallons in tho year" 19G1 —an J iiicroaso of 275.5.mi11i0n gallons a day. In | other words, of.the existing sourees.of supply, > the Thames alono is capable of considerable I expansion.- ■. ' . "However. sufficient the now existing sources of supply, may be for the present generation, tho facts given abovo make-it evident that, it' would . be criminal to dolay tbp provision' for tho future. Here' are the * recommendations: — " "" 'In our view, haying regard to the vital importance of' securing tho metropolis J afjainst anything approaching a dearth of ■» water —and to ■ the enormous interests .at II stake—it is essential that earnest consideration should bo given to the practicability of ' acquiring somo supplemental gathering i ground which would be available in caso of need after tho exhaustion of tho present 0 source's. Scarcely: a year passes hut that somo authority within-the country promotes legis- " lation with a view to acquiring a watershed for ' obtaining a supply—it may be for use miles distant—and if nothing is done on behalf of r London it may result, in all suitablo areas ;1 being allotted,to. other authorities—a result .t which it is not too much to describe as a g possibility of extromo gravity.' " n ; •' '' " ■ '■■■•

Estimated Estimated average Date.- 'population. daily; supply. 1016 8,Ml,000 .... -281 million gals. 1921 8,703,000 ... 305 . 1020' 0,431,000 ... 1 330 „ 1031:10,221,000. > .... 358 .„ . „ 1930 11,076,000' . ... 308 . „ „ ion ]2,ooo,ooo ...' 120 „ 194S 13,428,000 ... .470 ' 1051 14,857,000 ... 520: „ I860 ' I6,2S6,000 ... , 570