1876*] 
Scheme of Water Supply. 
3i3 
gallons per day), the Whitmore, Parkside, and Nottingham 
Wells, — which are removed from the influence of populous 
neighbourhoods, — must be considered as completely esta- 
blishing the excellence of this source of water-supply. 
Considering, therefore, the wide extension of the water- 
bearing strata of the New Red Sandstone, the excellence of 
the formation as a source of pure water, — equally cool and 
refreshing in summer and winter, — it must be conceded 
that the central counties are happily situated as regards 
their prospects of water-supply, provided these resources 
are judiciously utilised. Nor must it be forgotten that the 
internal reservoirs do not terminate with the upper boundary 
of the sandstone, but that the waters pass for great distances 
under the overlying impervious marls, as illustrated by 
the case of the Scarle boring, and that, by deep wells or 
borings, these underground reservoirs maybe converted into 
perennial fountains.* 
Application of the above Observations to the Cases of Villages 
and Hamlets. 
From what has been stated it will be obvious that for 
those villages, hamlets, or parishes situated on any of these 
water-bearing strata, or not far from their upper margins, 
where they pass below the overlying impermeable forma- 
tions, wells are the proper and available means of supply. 
But the determination of the question regarding the character 
of the formation underlying each special village or hamlet, 
as well as the selection of the best site for a well, are evi- 
dently geological questions, requiring some special knowledge 
of this branch of science ; and the problem how such know- 
ledge is to become available in each case remains for solution. 
To this I now address myself. 
In the first place it will be admitted that the completion of 
the maps of the Government Geological Survey, over the 
districts comprised in this paper, places them in a very ad- 
vantageous position for availing themselves of the under- 
ground waters stored up in the strata. Until some accurate 
and detailed maps such as these were rendered available, 
the data for arriving at definite conclusions regarding the 
geological situation of many localities could not be obtained ; 
and constituted sanitary bodies might well have hesitated to 
* Thus at Retford, Notts, which stands on the upper beds of the Keuper 
marl, not far below the base of the Lias, there are two wells sunk down 
600 feet into the New Red Sandstone for the supply of two large breweries, 
and the water rises within 6 feet of the surface. One of these wells was 
sunk under the direction of Mr, John T, Woodhouse, F.G.S., of Derby, 
