WATER CATCHMENT AREAS 187 
upon the area. Mr. Frank H. Brunt, A.M.Inst.C.E., 
states that the presence of soot is easily discernible 
on the moorland grass situated within several miles of 
Rochdale. 
Bolton has 12,202 acres of gathering grounds at 
Entwistle, Belmont, and Heaton. The compensation reser- 
voirs, Belmont, Rumworth, and Wayoh, draw from about half 
this area; and the Springs, Dingle, Entwistle, High Rid, 
and Heaton storage reservoirs obtain their domestic water 
from the other half. Of the total area the Corporation have 
acquired 7084 acres, of which 6046 acres are in the 
Belmont area in Turton Urban District, and 915 acres are 
in the Entwistle area, Darwen Parish. The Corporation 
have not acquired the gathering grounds of the Heaton and 
High Rid reservoirs, situated for the most part in the 
Borough of Bolton, and are unable to exercise effective 
control over these areas, on which there are 7 farms, 2 
public- houses, and 39 cottages, with a population of 
216 persons. Notwithstanding the large expenditure by 
the Corporation in enclosing the streams thereon, and the 
measures taken to obviate preventable pollution, the water 
obtained from this source is at times so grossly polluted as 
to be obnoxious and highly dangerous. The Local Govern- 
ment Board wrote to the Town Clerk on 1st December 
1910 as follows: “The Board approve of the exclusion of 
Heaton water, that has not been subjected to storage, from 
the supply, and of the decision of the Town Council to 
abolish in a few years the farms on their gathering grounds, 
The Board further understand that it is the intention of the 
Town Council to acquire those parts of the gathering 
grounds not already in their possession. This is a proposal 
with which the Board entirely agree.” 
Mr. Lewis Mitchell, M.Inst.C.E., in charge of the Water- 
works, is of opinion that “the storage and filtration of 
water used for domestic purposes is not suflicient to 
guarantee its wholesomeness, because the reservoirs become 
depleted during periods of drought; and subsequently, 
