SA Water

In the early days of Adelaide, citizens not sufficiently wealthy to have their own wells relied on carted water which, coming from the River Torrens at the ford between Morphett Street and King William Road, was polluted and probably unsafe to drink.

One carter, "Worthy" Worthington George Nicholls, who was found to be delivering free loads to the poor, was persecuted mercilessly and eventually killed himself.

The effluent from soap factories and tanneries was discharged onto roads or into the River Torrens, and human waste of those who had not dug pits was collected by night-cart men.

The Adelaide Times dismissed the public meeting as Stephens' attempt to upstage J. H. Fisher, disparaged his lecture, and cast doubts as to whether the "better class of people" would attend.

The Colonial Architect, W. B. Hayes,[a] proposed that a water and sewerage board be formed[4] along the lines of that established for London, but again was defeated by the Legislative Council.

The final straw was a storm and flood in July 1858 which washed away the Torrens Gorge weir (near Campbelltown), which was found to be defective in construction and materials used.

Though the Clerk of Works was found negligent in his oversight of the contract, Hamilton's reputation suffered and he resigned, to be replaced by John England.

Thorndon Park reservoir was completed in 1860,[6] but England was criticised by Benjamin Boothby for making excessive payments to contractors[7] on its construction, and left the colony in 1867.

[8] The department became a target of accusations of mismanagement between successive Hanson and Reynolds governments, with J. D. Woods, Manager of Waterworks, the unfortunate pawn in the power play.