We need new reservoirs – and it’s a job for the state, not private companies | Letters

David Griffiths says mayors could be empowered to build water infrastructure, while Kevin Whately suggests incorporating communal storage into new housing estates Pete Ford ( Letters, 20 August ) rightly reminds us that “The Victorians … built reservoirs, aqueducts and local water-storage infrastructure.” But who were these “Victorians”? Generally speaking, they were local councillors and their professional engineers.

Taking my own town as an example, within 40 years of its incorporation as a borough in 1868 it had built five new reservoirs, as well as taking over others previously provided by ad hoc groups of commissioners, with water delivered through 240 miles of mains.

By 1897 it was one of 610 urban councils with their own water undertakings.

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