CIRENCESTER'S new water supply – five million gallons a day more than 200,000 gallons an hour is the rate of flow from the experimental borehole at Baunton, sunk with a view to the augmentation and securing the safety of Cirencester’s water supply.

A water diviner, walking twig in hand over the site of the new borehole suggested the likelihood of finding there a flow of 15,000 gallons an hour at a depth of from 300 to350 feet. How far out he was in his estimate is shown by the fact that 14 times the estimated quantity has been found at one quarter of the depth he indicated.

In this Cirencester Urban District Council are most fortunate for at much less than the calculated expenditure of time and work any fears as to the future have been allayed and they are in possession of a supply sufficient for a population of 200,000. Indeed they find themselves in so excellent a position that they might well seek powers to extend their area of distribution.

True, this is a period of flood, but it is confidently expected that a return to normal weather conditions will do little to diminish the present flow.

Its force may be gauged from the fact that the rock had been penetrated only to a depth of eleven feet when, with a roar the water rushed up pushing before it three pieces of the core of solid rock weighing together several hundredweight.

It is hopeless at present to attempt to line the boring. The force of the water preventing the pipes from sinking into position and heavy pumping will be resorted to in order to free the boring of the water while this work is carried out. Then the boring will be capped and the flow controlled by valve.

During the past week the flow has been diverted by three channels to add to the already swollen water of the Churn and to increase the severity of the test, of the steps taken to prevent a recurrence of flooding at Cirencester With the continued development of the district especially in the higher parts it became evident to the Water Committee some three or four years ago that the present reservoir was not high enough to give the necessary head of water.

After some discussion the surveyor was instructed to report on the general condition of the water supply. After considering this report the council called in Mr L Richardson FRSE FGS who was asked to suggest a site where in his opinion a good supply of water might be expected and which would if possible be in fairly close proximity to the suggested site for a new reservoir.

After careful inspection of the district Mr Richardson suggested the Baunton area. His report was carefully considered by the council and they were of the opinion that the scheme should go forward. They called in consultant engineers Messrs Binney Deacon and Gourley. After some negotiations with the owners of the land it was decided to purchase a small piece of land on the Cheltenham Road opposite the golf course subject to water being found.

Boring was commenced by Messrs George Stowe and Co Ltd of Newport. The first part of the bore was through Fuller’s Earth clay which extends to a depth of 68 feet. The inferior oolite was then reached. At 70 feet an artesian fissure was struck which yielded approximately 10,000 gallons per hour. As boring went further the supply of water increased and made boring difficult. At 82 feet the borehole is yielding approximately 5,000,000 gallons per day and boring has had to be discontinued until the water is brought under control.

A second borehole is giving an output of of 12 million gallons a day without in the least affecting the output of five million gallons a day given by the first borehole. Which has now been deepened. All feats for the future of Cirencester’s water supply are thus allayed. Both boreholes have now been capped and are under control.

Water will be pumped to a reservoir near the Gloucester Road whence it will be fed to Cirencester by gravitation.