with slight emendations and additions, and the Secretary of the Society of Public Analysts will, as before, be pleased on receipt of a stamped envelope to send a copy to anyone who may desire it. The difference between the analysis of the Kent supply in January and that published in this number is accounted for by the fact that the sample has come principally, if not entirely, from a different well. We hope next month to be able to print the analyses of the water taken simultaneously from all the different wells of this company. The analysis given under the heading "Trafalgar Square Well Water" is from the Artesian well in that square used to supply the fountains, and a small portion of which is, we are informed, also used for drinking purposes. PROVINCIAL TOWNS. Bradford. The supply is obtained from three sources-1, The moors above Oxenhope (high level); 2, Springs at Chellow Dean (intermediate level); 3, Reservoirs at Barden and Chelker (low level). The total capacity of the reservoirs is 1,154,000,000 gallons, and the daily consumption 7 to 8 million gallons. The geological formation of the sites of the reservoirs is the carboniferous, peat, clay, millstone grits, and shales, with a few beds of coal. The water, although slightly coloured with peat, is very soft and good. Birmingham.-The sources of supply of this water are of two kinds-first, from certain streams outside the town, viz., the river Bourne, the Perry and Witten and Plants brooks; and, second, several deep wells sunk into the red sandstone. The waters from these two very different sources are mixed in reservoirs before distribution, and the portion derived from streams is submitted to filtration more or less perfect. Bristol. The Company commence to take their supply from the Chew Hill Head Spring on the Mendip Hills, about 16 miles from Bristol and 430 feet above the Bristol Floating Harbour. From this point the "line of works" passes through the parishes of Litton, East and West Harptree, Chew Stoke, and Winford, with about ten miles of iron tubes and tunnel driven as much as 170 feet from the surface of the ground. Some deepseated springs are taken up en route. At the Winford end of the tunnel the water is discharged into the store reservoirs at Barrow Gurney, about 4 miles from Bristol, 300 feet above the Floating Harbour. At Barrow Gurney rises the Cold Bath Spring, which is also taken. These constitute the gravitation sources of supply. Water is also obtained, when required, by pumping from deep wells at Chelvey, near Nailsea, about nine miles from Bristol. Derby. The supply is derived partly from springs in the millstone grit at Little Eaton and Cocksbench, and partly from two 9 ft. culverts, which run along for some miles on either side of the Derwent, at a distance of 21 feet from the river, and below the level of the river bed. These culverts are built of bricks without mortar, about 4 inches thick, and are immediately surrounded by several feet of coarse gravel. They are filled with water from the hills on either side of the river. The waterworks are at Little Eaton, some two and a-half miles from the town, and here the culverts are connected by two 24-inch iron pipes which pass under the river. The water rises in two wells and flows into a reservoir at the works, which also receives the water from the springs. It is pumped up thence into filtering beds consisting of 18 inches fine sand, 1 foot fine gravel, 1 foot coarse gravel, 18 inches boulderstones, 18 inches rough sandstone, and falls by gravitation into the town. The supply is about 1 million gallons daily, of which about 900,000 gallons are derived from the springs at Little Eaton and Cocksbench. Droitwich.—This water has been supplied to the town within the last two years, all water being previously saline. Prospecting for water a hill of gravel and pebbles (a glacial drift) was found measuring 4 miles by mile, and containing water the chlorine in which did not exceed 3 grains per gallon. Round the area the chlorine ranged from 12 to 72 grains. Borings were made which gave a good water. Mr. Prichard, C.E., put in numerous sta adits, with large stoneware pipes pierced with holes as at Warwick. 60,000 gallons per day are delivered, being pumped up from a reservoir, into which the adits fall, to a covered tank 100 feet above the level, and then delivered to the town by gravitation. The water is generally very pure, but the late snows and heavy floods have evidently polluted it, falling into the adits at a lower level. A few feet below the adits the water is saline. Grantham.-The water is derived from the Oolite limestones to the south of the town. A portion comes from springs and headings in the water-bearing strata at Stroxton, about three miles from the town. This is delivered by gravitation through iron pipes to the service reservoir. The larger portion is collected from various springs at Little Ponton, extending to a distance of two miles from the town; and conducted by an iron main to a reservoir at the pumping station whence it is pumped up to the service reservoir. Some water was formerly taken from the Stoke River, a tributary of the Witham, and from a spring at Great Ponton. Both these sources of supply were objectionable, the river water not only being very turbid after rain, but being also polluted with sewage above the intake, and the spring being subject to surface pollution. The supply was much improved last year by ceasing to take water from the last two named sources, and by increasing the size of the collecting main from Little Ponton, whereby the yield of pure spring water is greatly augmented. The service reservoir is 138 feet 6 inches above the level of the centre of the town. It is covered over and has a capacity of 678,600 gallons. The water is delivered to the town on the constant system. The works belong to a private company formed in 1850. (This supply will only be reported on bi-monthly. See ANALYST for January, page 22.) Hull. The supply is from the underlying chalk strata, which stretch for miles all around. The gathering grounds are to the N. and W. of the town. The natural outflows of the underground waters are various springs in the low-lying districts and the broad channel of the Humber. The site of one very copious outflow at Springhead-4 miles west of Hull—was 18 years ago made into a pumping station; shafts and bores were sunk and the supply now exceeds 6,000,000 gallons per day, drawn from a mean depth of 50 feet below the surface. The overplus of the night's pumping is sent into reservoirs at Stoneferry, 3 miles from Springhead, and these supply an extra engine which assists the Springhead engines during the working hours of the day. As the town increases steadily, and the supply in ordinary seasons is very little beyond the demand, new works are now in progress for increasing this supply. An adit or tunnel 4,000 feet long and from 50 to 60 feet below the ground level is under construction. It is intended that new bores at and near the end of this adit shall send additional water to the Springhead pumping shafts. The adit will also form a useful underground reservoir. Liverpool. This supply is derived from two distinct sources: viz., from a gathering ground at Rivington, near Chorley, and from deep wells in the red sandstone formation. The water thus obtained is mixed, generally in about the proportion of two parts of Rivington and one part of well water, previous to distribution. The gathering ground at Rivington is partly of a peaty nature, but in other respects is well adapted to the purpose. Of the wells there are four, or counting the Bootle deep borehole, five. Of these the Green Lane Well supplies the greatest quantity. The population supplied is about 700,000—the service being constant. Llandrindod. This water is collected in the Radnorshire Hills, and after passing over a large surface of Trap rock, with veins of calcareous spar, is stored in a reservoir, which is cut out of the rock and covered over, from whence the water is distributed to the houses by gravitation. Newark-on-Trent.—The water is derived from a series of culverts dug in the gravel by the side of the Trent for a distance of fifty yards, about two miles above the town. The water filters through the gravel into the culverts, and is pumped into a covered service reservoir having a capacity of 500,000 gallons, situated on some high ground outside the town. The water is delivered directly from the mains on the constant system. Plymouth. This water is derived from the peat bogs on the Dartmoor granite hills, passing through an open seat about twenty miles in length. After heavy storms from the south-west it is frequently much stained with peat, and it also contains salt driven in from the sea. At ordinary times it is very soft, of fair colour, and of good quality, though there is said to be much room for improvement in the filtering arrangements. Portsmouth.—The water is obtained from copious surface springs which rise from chalk, partially in the parish of Bedhampton and partially in the parish of Havant, eight miles from Portsmouth, from whence it is pumped into reservoirs, the capacity of which is 8,000,000 gallons, on Portsdown Hill, two and half miles from and about 140 feet above the town; from thence it descends by gravitation and is distributed over the district. The supply is constant, and the Company supplies an estimated population of 135,000 people. Reading.-Reading and its suburbs have a constant service from the works, which are in the hands of the Corporation. The water is derived from the River Kennet. The intakes are about two miles above the town. There are two sets of works pumping by water power with auxiliary steam power at times. The older works pump by water wheels to large reservoirs in the Bath Road, holding about four days supply, filling through filters of small superficial area with twelve feet of water above five feet of gravel, shingle and sharp sand. The water filters too quickly and under pressure. The new works pump by turbines. They have two settling reservoirs and three filters each about thirty yards square. The subsidence is assisted by the water being caused to pass upwards and then over a wall or weir before it enters the filters. The filters have three feet of gravel and sand, with about two feet of water above, so that they filter more slowly and under less pressure than at the older works. None of the filters or reservoirs are covered from the sun, and during flood time the filters require constant cleaning. Both works are used at times. Above Reading there is the town of Newbury not yet sewered, at a distance by the windings of the river of about twenty miles. The river runs through a flat open country, but is liable to floods both winter and summer, when much vegetable and inorganic matter gets washed down. Rugby.—The water supply is principally derived from the drainage of pasture lands. Advantage being taken of the gradient, the water flows to a settling tank, passes through a filter bed, and is pumped up to a tank on the top of a tower. In dry weather, when the surface supply is short, water is pumped from a reservoir near the river Avon, which is kept filled from a well in the immediate vicinity. Sevenoaks is supplied with water from a well about 120 feet deep, sunk through Kentish rag into the Folkestone Beds, and about one-third of a mile from the town; but a portion of the water comes from a tunnel close by. The supply is ample, there being sufficient (at 15 gallons per head per day) to supply a town of 35,000 inhabitants. It is pumped from this well into a covered reservoir by Knole Park and near the Tunbridge Road from whence it descends by gravitation to the town. The Company are now building a new concrete reservoir, about 150 feet higher than the present one, to supply the increasing wants of houses built on a higher level. The consumption, during 1880, was less than 14 gallons per head per day, including trade and street watering. (This supply will only be reported on bi-monthly. See ANALYST for January, page 22.) Stourport. This water is supplied by the Kidderminster Water Works, and is derived from an Artesian well, shaft 120 feet, then 10-inch borehole 600 feet; and also from another well, 35 feet, with a 10-inch borehole 200 feet deep, from the new red sandstone. The quantity supplied is about two million gallons per diem. Sunderland. The water supplied to this borough is obtained from the dolomite or magnesian limestone, by means of shafts sunk to a depth of 46 fathoms, at Ryhope, Seaham, Dalton-le-Dale, Humbledon Hill, Cleadon, and Fulwell, and is in the hands of the Water Company, who, in addition to Sunderland, also supply Ryhope, Seaham, North and South Hylton, Ford, Boldon, South Shields, Jarrow, and Hebburn. The delivery last year was at the rate of 4,593,000 gallons per day. The supply per head of the population of Sunderland-exclusive of that supplied for manufacturing purposes, which average 10 gallons a day-is at the rate of 12 gallons per day, making a total of 22 gallons per head per day supplied for all purposes. The supply is continuous, so that practically there is no limit as to its use. Whitehaven.—This has a constant water supply, derived from Ennerdale Lake, about nine miles distant from the town. The water is conveyed in iron pipes, coated with Dr. Angus Smith's preparation. It is not filtered. The service reservoir, situated outside the town, is small and uncovered. The substrata of the Ennerdale valley (the source of the supply, consists of clay slate (skiddow slate) highly altered, Ennerdale syenitic granite, and Borrowdale series of volcanic rocks. Wolverhampton.-The supply is about 2 million gallons per day, 1 million gallons of which is derived from the River Worf at Cosford, about nine miles from Wolverhampton and three from Shifnal in Shropshire. The balance of the supply is well water, of which the main portion (say -million gallons) is derived from an Artesian borehole into the new red sandstone at Cosford; but about 4-million gallons come from the new red sandstone by two other wells, situated respectively at Goldthorn Hill and Tettenhall pumping stations, within a mile or two of the town. Worcester.-The water is taken from the Severn one mile above the city, passed through filter beds of sand and gravel (which are cleansed weekly), then pumped up to a reservoir on a hill, and supplied by gravitation to dwelling houses. 1,600,000 gallons are pumped daily. The water contains peat and (whitewater) kaolin from the decomposition of feldspathic rocks in Montgomeryshire. The purest water, and largest in quantity, is derived from the river Vyrnwy, which joins the Severn a few miles above Shrewsbury. Pollution of Severn: flannel mills, lead mines, zinc, sewage of Newtown and Welshpool. Pollution of Vyrnwy: peat and kaolin, sewage of Oswestry. Pollution of Severn after junction: sewage of Shrewsbury, Bridgnorth, Stourport, mills refuse of Kidderminster and Stourport, salt refuse of Droitwich. The oxidation of pollution in the Severn is very remarkable, chiefly owing to the admixture of Vyrnwy waters, which partly also dilute the polluted waters. "White Water" cannot be removed by the sand filter beds. At present the town water is not so good as usual, owing to the continued floods. |