HH62/2/LANARK/60

Transcription

[Page] 59

Water Supply. - This is undoubtedly the most im-
portant question which has engaged the attention of the
Committee. During practically the whole of the year the
greater portion of the Middle Ward has suffered severely
from want of water fit for domestic use.
With the exception of the parts supplied by the Bothwell
Water Supply, the Blantyre Water Supply, the Cambuslang
Water Supply, and the Newmains Water Supply Districts,
and the Airdrie and Coatbridge Water Company, the
supply generally for the Middle Ward is from wells, pits,
and streams. Almost without exception the wells are
shallow, situated in gardens, at roadsides, or in fields, and
are liable to pollution.
Analysis of water from these wells frequently showed
contamination from sewage, and, in the case of three of
them, to such an extent as to necessitate closing. These
were at New Stevenston, Stonehouse, and John Street,
Larkhall. The Stonehouse Well, although far from satis-
factory, was reopened after cleaning out and repairing, as
it was found that the people in the neighbourhood were
having recourse to supplies equally objectionable, or even
more so. Many of the mining villages, particularly in the
Parishes of New Monkland, Old Monkland, and Shotts,
depend for their supplies on water pumped up from pits.
It is a well-known fact that such water, in the great
majority of instances, is not free from danger on account of
its almost necessary pollution by the men and horses
employed in the pits. In the case of New Stevenston,
the District Committee have been obliged to arrange for a
temporary supply from a disused working. The water,
however, flows naturally from a bore, and is more of the
nature of spring water than ordinary pit water, and it seems
reasonable to suppose that the contaminating matter has
long ago disappeared. Those unfortunately depending for
their water supply upon streams are, if possible, in an even
worse plight than the others. Any one acquainted with
the district of the Middle Ward knows that the streams,

[Page] 60

with the exception of the upper reaches of the Avon, are
contaminated with sewage or trade refuse, and not in-
frequently both.
Under these circumstances the District Committee re-
solved to boldly grapple with the problem, and introduce a
general supply for the whole of the Middle Ward. To get
rid of an initial difficulty in the way of rating for such a
scheme, a short Bill was promoted at the instance of
the District Committee, and passed successfully through
both Houses of Parliament, becoming law on 5th August,
1891, and known as "The Public Health (Scotland)
Amendment Act, 1891." In accordance with one of its
provisions, the Act was adopted by the District Com-
mittee on 11th September, 1891. Messrs. Leslie & Reid, of
Edinburgh, who had been previously instructed to report
on the best means of relieving the pressing necessities of
the Middle Ward as regards water, then submitted a report
recommending Glengavel, in the Parish of Avondale, and
within the Middle Ward, as the best available source of
supply - this scheme being ultimately adopted by the
Committee. In the course of the consideration of the
scheme, I was instructed to visit and report upon the pro-
posed gathering ground. I inspected it on two occasions,
taking samples - two of which I submitted for analysis to
Dr. Stevenson Macadam, two to Mr. Tatlock, and two I
retained. In September I reported that "the special
feature of this gathering ground is the entire absence of
dwellings or other sources of pollution of a dangerous
character. It is moorland, with a small proportion of peat,
and is, in my opinion, well adapted as a source of water
supply for domestic purposes."
Dr. Macadam reported, as the result of his analysis, that
"the water is free from contamination and noxious matters,
and is pure and unobjectionable in quality. Besides being
suitable for daily household wants, such as drinking, cook-
ing, and washing purposes, the water from its softness will
be found serviceable for steam boilers, and for general