Piped water

The Farlington Waterworks Company and the Portsea Island Waterworks Company both began commercially piping water in Portsmouth during 1811. It was many decades however before piped water was found in the majority of the houses in Portsmouth.

No running water

‘The present supply of water to the borough (Portsmouth) is very defective, and in numerous instances, as where pumping from the well lowers the fluid in the adjoining cesspool, it must be vitiated to a degree dangerous to health. Water is now obtained by the inhabitants from a company who have waterworks, - from pumps, - from local wells, - and from watercarts’. Report to the General Board of Health on the sewage, drainage and water supply of Portsmouth, 1850.