As urban populations grew in the early nineteenth century, water was provided either by local authorities or by private companies, each of which obtained its powers from Parliament by obtaining local acts. The scope of these acts varied considerably, and an attempt was made to provide some uniformity by the passing of the Waterworks Clauses Acts of 1847 and 1863.
The early nineteenth century saw a surge in urban populations, leading to two primary water supply options: local authorities or private companies. Both entities obtained their legal authority from Parliament through specific local acts. The scope of these acts varied widely, but the Waterworks Clauses Acts of 1847 and 1863 aimed to standardize them.