32 THE SHALLOW AND DEEP WELL WATERS OF ESSEX. 



such water, and at West Hanningfield there is a similar well. A 

 brook running from South Hanningfield also contains such magne- 

 sian waters. What is the source of this magnesia ? and are the beds 

 of sand yielding such waters limited to the upper portion of the 

 London Clay ? The importance of this question will be manifest 

 when we come to speak of the deep well waters. For examples of 

 such waters, refer to my report on the Chelmsford and Maldon 

 District Water Supplies. C. Nos. 15, 16, 17, 21, 24, 26, 31, 38, 

 39, 45, 63, 94, 98, 107, 121, 126, 159, 168, 176, 198, 213. M. 

 Nos. 62 to 81, 86 to 90, 133 to 146. At Bradwell, Southminster, 

 Galleywood, and possibly other place3, where such waters are found, 

 the proximity of beds of brick-earth have possibly some connection 

 with this peculiarity. 



Passing on to the consideration of the waters yielded by wells 

 sunk through the London Clay, here again we meet with serious 

 difficulties, due to the fact that many of the wells, more especially 

 the older ones, are so badly constructed that it is quite uncertain 

 what proportion of surface or sub-soil water they contain. As the 

 water from these superficial sources is usually, if not always, very 

 impure, containing much organic matter and nitrates, we can invari- 

 ably detect its presence, but we can only very roughly estimate the 

 quantity. According to the varying proportion of surface to subter- 

 ranean water will the constituents vary on analysis. Take, for 

 example, the water at Goldhanger Rectory and at Cold Norton 

 Railway Station. Li 1889, the water from the rectory well was 

 uncontaminated. Li 1891, there were reasons for suspecting that 

 the water was being fouled, and upon analysis such proved to be the 

 case. Evidently water containing less saline matter and more lime 

 salts and nitrates {i.e., impure surface water) was gaining access to 

 the well. At Cold Norton Railway the water obtained soon after 

 the well was bored contained so much nitrates and lime salts that I 

 felt justified in condemning it as impure. The well was opened 

 and some improvements made. The quality of the water also 

 improved ; but it still was impure. The well was again examined, 

 and, I believe, some puddling done, or the brickwork cemented. 

 The result was that when the water was again submitted to analysis 

 it proved to be pure. At Stow Maries (Hogwell) we have not been 

 so fortunate. When I examined the water, in 1890, I found it very 

 impure, and I reported that sub-soil water was entering the well. 

 The railway company had the water pumped to a low level, and 



