per week. By October 1881 services had been put in all the houses at Vochriw proper, with the exception of five or six houses in Williams’ Row and one house in Brook Row. Scarlet fever  was said not to be spreading much in the district, but the Surveyor was not at all surprised that there had been so much of it, when people insisted upon holding prayer meetings in infected houses, and schoolmasters and schoolmistresses would take all the school children to funerals. At this time the Brecon and Merthyr Railway Company advised that they would require a supply of water to a cistern of theirs, and also for general purposes at Vochriw Station.

In December 1881 a water tank was erected at Pentwyn but during February 1882 a letter was received from Mr James, telling the Board that he would require them to remove the tank from his land or pay one guinea per year, with compensation for any damage that might occur. The Surveyor remarked that it would be better to remove the tank than pay the guinea, and this recommendation was adopted but the outcome is not known.

No further newspaper reports have been found for the next ten years, but in June 1892 it was recommended that a greater storage be made on the mountain above Fochriw near Ty Mawr farmhouse. It was not until May 1893 that a plan was received, and it made a recommendation that the tank would be 200 feet by 40 feet with a depth of 5 feet, which would afford a week’s supply of water, in place of the current one day’s supply, at a rate of 8,750 gallons a day or 35 gallons per house. Total estimated cost would be £450. The matter was referred to the Parochial Committee, and subsequently agreed.

The 1891 census advises a population at Fochriw as 793 and at Pentwyn 218

In April 1895, it was reported that frost had damaged the water supply pipes with many houses being off supply

During November 1898 it was reported that, whereas the village was well supplied with water during the major portion of the year, during the drought there was a scarcity of water. The springs at Penybank (Ty Mawr) were dry in summer, and the committee recommended the Council to ask the Merthyr District Council to supply Fochriw. However, Gelligaer Council was under sealed agreement with the Rhymney and Aber Valleys Water Company, giving water rights to that company. Their position had been altered by an Act of Parliament passed during the last session and within the whole area of Gelligaer, the Rhymney and Aber Water Company could prevent any competing company or Council coming in. From a legal position, under the agreement the company could buy up all the Council's waterworks, and upon the company rested the onus of supplying water to Fochriw.

Once again, the matter of commoner’s rights with regards to common land and the charges proposed to be made by the commoners for the laying of pipes by the Council at Fochriw came before the Council during September 1900. The commoners wanted to be paid 30 shillings per chain and per acre. The ground required measured 56½ chains for pipe laying and the area of common land required was four acres. The Clerk advised that the Council  refer the commoners to the Rhymney and Aber Valley Gas and Water Company. All the Council had to do was to sell that Company their interest in the tank. The Clerk's suggestion was accepted.

The 1901 census advises a population at Fochriw as 816 and at Pentwyn 251

April 1906 saw questions again being asked about the inadequate water supply that had been promised to be rectified for many years, and the residents had previously been advised that once the service to Rhymney had been completed a connection would then be made to Fochriw. It was understood that a branch main would be run over the mountain from Pontlottyn, the contour of the service enabling this to