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Sanitary districts were established in England and Wales in 1872 and in Ireland in 1878. The districts were of two types, based on existing structures: * Urban sanitary districts in towns with existing local government bodies * Rural sanitary districts in the remaining rural areas of poor law unions. Each district was governed by a sanitary authority and was responsible for various public health matters such as providing clean drinking water, sewers, street cleaning, and clearing slum housing.