London's water supply, 1828 caricature. Historical artwork by the British caricaturist George Cruikshank (1792-1878), showing people protesting against sewage polluting London's water supply. At centre, John Edwards, the owner of the Southwark Water Works is sitting on a toilet with a chamberpot on his head, on a globe in the Thames, raising a goblet of polluted water to the crowds on the river bank. Dead animals are on the trident in his hand. Sewers bring excrement into the river, and washer women (left) attempt to clean clothes. In the background is London Bridge and the sailing ships and buildings of early 19th century London. Unlike the owners of other water companies, Edwards had failed to improve the sourcing and quality of the drinking water he supplied, despite an 1828 report calling for reforms.