Sep., 1891. 
BORING AT SHILLINGFORD. 
205 
Continued pumping did somewhat diminish the saltness of the 
water, but not to an extent that made it available. When 
tested again, six weeks after the above analysis was made, 
there were still nearly 55 grains of sodium chloride per 
gallon, and the complete analysis (made by Mr. J. Heron, 
F.C.S.) was as follows :— 
“ Hardness before boiling .. .. .. .. 28 0 
,, after ,, .. .. .. .. 16-0 
Nitrogen as nitrates and nitrites .. .. 0*163 
Oxygen required to oxide the organic matter .. 0*280 
“ The mineral constituents are probably com¬ 
bined as follows :— 
Grs. per 
gallon. 
Sulphate of lime .. .. .. .. .. 10*54 
,, ,, magnesia .. .. .. .. 8*02 
Carbonate of lime.. .. .. .. .. 21*00 
,, ., magnesia .. .. .. .. none. 
Sulphate of potash .. .. .. .. 4*17 
,, ,, soda .. .. .. .. .. none. 
Nitrate of potash .. .. .. .. .. 0*83 
Chloride of soda .. .. .. .. .. 54*79 
Silica .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2*24 
Organic matter .. .. .. .. .. 2*28 
Oxide of iron .. .. .. .. .. none. 
98*87” 
The entire absence of oxide of iron in a water rising from 
sands which are almost always ferruginous is even more 
remarkable than the presence of the sodium chloride. The 
salinity of the water is, however, sufficiently surprising, for 
the same sands along their outcrop by Culliam and Clifton 
Hampden yield a pure and drinkable water supply. It would 
appear that the water becomes impure as it passes beneath 
the Gault, for I find that other borings in this direction 
yielded similar salt and undrinkable waters. Thus, a boring 
near the railway station at Didcot was carried to a depth 
of 208ft. through the Gault into rock and sand, but the water 
then obtained was so impregnated with salt and iron as to 
be quite unfit for any use. Another boring was made at 
Wittenliam, which lies between Didcot and Shillingford, in 
which salt water was obtained, though I cannot ascertain any 
particulars regarding it. 
Several remarkable cases of saline waters arising from 
Jurassic rocks occur in the neighbourhood of Bedford, and 
the following is quoted from the Annual Beport for 1888 to 
the Rural Sanitary Authority of the Bedford District by Dr. 
