V.—On two Borings for Water at Hinckley, Leicestershire

Abstract

Though Hinckley is now possessed of an excellent supply of water brought from the Lower Keuper Sandstone of Snarestone, in North-West Leicestershire, up to 1891 it had an unenviable reputation for abortive water-schemes. Some £20,000 had been spent in considering eighteen different propositions and in carrying out three deep borings within a few miles of the town. During this time six consulting engineers were called in by the local authority. All these schemes failed, not through any lack of water—for this was obtained from the Waterstones of the Lower Keuper in almost unlimited quantity—but because it was found impossible to shut out the chlorides and sulphates from the gypsiferous Keuper Marls through which the borings passed.