|
Until the year 1900 the water supply to the borough of Bury, and many of the
surrounding districts, was controlled by the Corporation of Bury, but in that
year a board called "The Bury and District Joint Water Board" was constituted.
Representatives are appointed from Bury, Haslingden, Rawtenstall, Radcliffe,
Ramsbottom, Little Lever, Whitefield, Tottington, and the Bury Rural District.
The reservoirs controlled by the Board are ten in number, with a total capacity
of 1,168,410,000 gallons, and a total surface area of 23o acres. The water
collected in the reservoirs is principally obtained from gathering grounds, but
pumps have been installed which raise underground water and discharge it into
the reservoirs. The Board is responsible only for the supply of water for domestic
purposes, but may supply water for manufacturing purposes. The Board necessarily
owns a great area of land (about 5,000 acres), some of which is let out to farmers,
where the land can be farmed without causing pollution of the streams feeding the
reservoirs. Any losses incurred by the Board are levied on the several authorities mentioned.
|