THE MIDDLE LIAS OF NORTHAMPTON SHIRE. 
35 
Under the heads of Springs, Eivers, and Lakes (natural 
or artificialj, we might perhaps group all the various methods 
adopted for water supply in this country. Wherever it is 
possible to obtain a copious supply of drinkable water from a 
spring, that is undoubtedly the most desirable source for a 
town, because, if from a sufficient depth to yield good potable 
water, it will not fluctuate in quality, quantity, or temperature, 
as water from the other two sources would, and until recently 
Northampton was furnished with such water. This supply 
was obtained from the Marlstone, and, as has been pointed 
out before, this is the chief water-bearing bed of the county 
West and South-west of Northampton. 
Although a deep seated water source may be exceedingly 
desirable, it cannot always be had, from a variety of causes, 
and it is remarkable that some of our largest towns are 
supplied partially or entirely otherwise. Probably no 
town uses such a large quantity of river water as London, 
for out of a daily supply of about 178,000,000 gallons 
(September, 1886), some 90,000,000 gallons are obtained 
from the Thames above Teddington Lock,* a fact which 
clearly shows the possibility of obtaining a satisfactory water 
from ordinary surface drainage by artificial filtration. 
There seems to be a growing desire on the part of the 
governing bodies of our large towns to utilise the waters of 
existing lakes, or to construct artificial reservoirs. Some 
natural lakes have already been appropriated to the water 
supply of towns. I may particularly mention Loch Katrine 
and Thirlmere, the former by Glasgow and the latter by 
Manchester. 
It is extremely doubtful whether it is a wise course for 
Parliament to allow of the monopoly of such supplies of water 
by any one town, and some very pertinent remarks were made 
on the subject by Mr. G. J. Symons, F.R.S., the Secretary 
to the Meteorological Society, in an address on “ Water 
Economy,” delivered before the Sanitary Institute of Great 
Britain in 1879. 
It is not my intention to speak for or against any of these 
systems as applied to other districts, but having noticed the 
fact that they are applied, it will be necessary to consider 
only the reasons for or against their adoption in Northampton¬ 
shire. 
* “ Sanitary Progress during the Reign of the Queen,” by Captain 
Douglas Galton, C.B., F.R.S. Address delivered at the opening of 
the Session of the Society of Arts. 
