WATER CATCHMENT AREAS 189 
two areas, totalling 2630 acres, is owned by the Board. 
Nearly the whole of the ground is hill pasture and moor. 
The water is filtered. The figures here given were supplied 
in June 1918 by the Engineer to the Board. 
Darwen obtains its water supply from a gathering 
ground of 660 acres of moorland and hill pasture on 
Darwen Moors. The water is filtered. No particulars 
were obtainable from the Town Clerk. Zhe Journal of 
Board of Agriculture, xi. 469 (1904), states that Darwen 
owns 500 acres of gathering ground, between 700 and 
1300 feet, nearly all hill pasture, with 12 acres of wood- 
land. 
Ashton in Makerfield Urban District Council obtain their 
water supply from a gathering ground of 400 acres at 
Winstanley. The water is filtered. No other particulars 
obtainable, 
Wigan obtains its water supply in part from two upland 
surfaces— 2200 acres at Wrightington, between 218 and 
400 feet elevation, and 500 acres at Billinge, between 316 
and 428 feet elevation. The gathering grounds, which 
appear to be entirely agricultural land, are not owned by 
the Corporation. “The farmsteads, etc., are drained and 
the tanks emptied when required, the contents being carted 
away and spread over suitable ground to prevent pollution.” 
The whole of these two areas appears to be suitable for 
afforestation, and, in any case, ought to be under the 
complete control of the Corporation. 
Warrington obtains its domestic supply entirely from 
wells, but it obtains water for trade purposes from a 
gathering ground of 1360 acres, between 140 and 250 feet 
elevation, at Appleton, Hatton, and Daresbury. The 
Corporation do not own any part of this area, over which 
they have merely the right to collect the water. 
Horwich Urban District Council obtains its water supply 
from a gathering ground of 97 acres at Wildersmoor, 
