The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-05-25 00:00:00

Correzponbence.

THE DORCHESTER WATER-WORKS.

To the Editor of the Dorset County Express and
Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, May 22nd, 1858.

, .
SIR,—As the letter of "A Fellow of the Geological
Society," upon the question of Water Supply, appears
to have created considerable doubt and uneasiness in the
minds of the members of the Local Board of Health, I
have taken the liberty of addressing you on the subject,
my object being to render any assistance in my power to
the Board, rather than place impedimenta in the way of
their carrying out the sanitary works of the borough. In
the second letter on this subject which appeared in this
week's Chronicle, the water gives the following as his
reason for stating that water will not be obtained by
boring :—" I consider the country about Dorchester so
. faulted as to brisiieratied inbo A number.af dis

fOr ii•e....-li7gruta ?l YO,t -nate a.
even at a much greater depth below the surface than we
now find it. But he goes on to say—" Ido not believe
that a bore hole on .IP'ordington Field, however deep,
would oommunicate with either the Winterbourne or
Corns springs." Now, I would ask our geological friend
if he can point out any fault between the well and Win.
terbourne or Cerise, or in any other direction, which will
carry away the water from that particular drainage area,
to • lower level than Winterbourne or Cerise, or in other
words, that could drain the green sand formation. For
myself I believe the reverse of thin to be the case, and
that the effect of the faults to the south aide of the well
is to prevent the water in the green sand from being
I drained off into the sea, which would be the case
supposing the stratum to run uninterruptedly to the
coast. The inclination being from north to south, it is
quite clear that any faults to the north of the well would
not in any way affect the level of the water, but merely
tend to circumscribe the drainage area of the locality.
This is a fact most clearly shown by the geological maps
and sections issued by the society, which, if they are
worth anything, may be depended upon; if not, it is •
great pity so much public money should have been ex-
pended on a worthless sarvey. I have great faith in the
geological sections, having tested them practically; and,
having all the sections and plans of the immediate
neighbourhood, shall be happy at any time to show
them to you, and explain what I have stated. I con-
sider the effects of the faults around the site of the
well to be the formation of a basin of green sand under
the chalk, containing the water of the drainage area
lying between the Winterbounm and Frome
extending even as far as Cerne. I believe it to have
been a great mistake from the first, attempting to get
the water eupply from the chalk, unless prepared to
bore through it. This I have frequently stated before
the well-sinking commenced. The most certain, and I
believe the least expensive method would have been to
have pumped it up from the stratum of gravel that
underlies the alluvial deposit in the Frome valley.
Had the money that has been expended in excavating,
for subterranean reservoirs, and pumping to keep the
works clear of water, been applied to boring, • plentiful
supply of water would by this time have been obtained.
In the first letter on this subject it is stated by the
writer that "Chalk is pervious to water throughout its
mass." If this really be the case, what an awful state
the wells of Dorchester must be in, many of them
being situated within a few feet of cesspools that have
not been emptied for years, and how much this shows
the necessity of getting a good supply of good water
and oompleting the sanitary works now at a standstill.
As • ratepayer, I say, let us have something for our
money, even if it costs • little more to get it. Trusting
you will excuse the liberty I have taken in trespassing
so much on your patience,
_ I remain,. Sir,