Grand Junction Waterworks Company

It was thought that these waters would be better than those of the Thames, but in fact they were found to be of poor quality and insufficient to meet demand.

Charles Dickens took an interest in the topic and, in carrying out research, he visited the Kew Bridge Pumping Station in March 1850.

He recorded details of his visit in his campaigning journal Household Words, in an article published in April 1850 entitled "The Troubled Water Question".

c. 84) was enacted "to make provision for securing the supply to the Metropolis of pure and wholesome water".

The company took its water from an island in the Thames that thereby acquired its present name, Grand Junction Isle.