186 FORESTS, WOODS, AND TEEES 



Bacup obtains its water supply from two gathering 

 grounds: (1) Cowpe reservoir, on Cowpe Brook, with a 

 catchment area of 593 acres, between 1020 and 1400 feet 

 elevation, of which 500 acres are owned by the Town 

 Council. These 500 acres are made up of 458 acres of 

 moorland, 13 acres of ploughed land, 26 acres of meadow, 

 and 4 acres of plantations. A wall has been built to keep 

 cattle off the gathering ground, on which there are occupied 

 farmsteads and dwelling-houses. (2) Sheephouses reservoir, 

 with a gathering ground of 150 acres, of which the Town 

 Council own only the water rights. The water of both 

 reservoirs is filtered. 



Rochdale obtains its water supply from four gathering 

 grounds as follows : 



1. Whit worth area (Cowm reservoir), 964 acres, at 816 

 to 1450 feet elevation. 



2. Norden and Whitworth area (Spring Mill reservoir), 

 558 acres, between 771 and 1450 feet elevation. 



3. Wardle and Whitworth area (Syke reservoirs), 497 

 acres, between 787 and 1300 feet elevation. 



4. Walsden area (Walsden reservoir), 400 acres, between 

 987 and 1425 feet elevation. 



The total area, 2419 acres, is all hill pasture and moor, 

 except 7 acres of plantations. The Corporation own the 

 site of the Cowm reservoir, 78 acres of the Norden area, 

 and 320 acres of the Walsden area. There are 20 sheep 

 farms and cottages on the Whitworth, Norden, and Wardle 

 areas. The water is filtered and regularly analysed. The 

 gathering grounds are frequently inspected, and water of a 

 doubtful character is diverted. The sewage of the farms 

 and cottages is dealt with by pail closets and watertight 

 cesspools. 



A new gathering ground at Walsden in connection with 

 the intended Ramsden lower reservoir is estimated at 350 

 acres, between 783 and 1250 feet elevation. Of this, 113 

 acres, all hill pasture and moor, except 4 acres of planta- 

 tions, are owned by the Corporation. There are 3 habitations 



