PROPERTIES OF WATER AND SOURCES OF SUPPLY. 2 1 



quality of water in small quantities. Medicinal 

 springs exist in new red sandstone, especially brine 

 springs. Red sandstone is almost equally permeable 

 in every direction, which is evinced by quarry faces 

 of this stone being quite dry, in the same way as 

 chalk and sand, except in places where clay forms 

 partings in it, and in this case well sinking would 

 not be attended by much success. Liverpool, in its 

 old waterworks, furnishes a good example of wells 

 sunk in red sandstone. 



We now come to consider what are termed 

 the Palceozoic Series, which, however, are not as 

 important from a water supply point of view as 

 those previously mentioned. Palaeozoic rocks con- 

 sist of shale, grit, sandstone, with layers of coal 

 and ironstone and millstone grit, and carboniferous 

 limestone. Wells sunk near coal measures will 

 yield a small quantity of water impregnated with 

 iron and not of good quality. Millstone grit usually 

 rests on impervious limestone shale. It is usually 

 found in wild localities in very rugged form and in- 

 tersected with ravines in which flow mountain tor- 

 rents supplied with water finding its way through 

 its pores. Practically the same remarks apply to 

 carboniferous limestone. Springs will occur at faults 

 filled with clay. In fact carboniferous limestone is 

 a study in itself, so interesting are the rivers therein 

 which disappear and reappear frequently along their 

 course. The Peak of Derbyshire affords many in- 

 stances, as also does Coole Park, Co. Galway, of 

 which the writer has personal experience. 



In this chapter, then, brief notice has been taken 

 of the various sources of supply which will be at the 

 disposal of the engineer, In conclusion, it will be 



