The town of Leicester is in a curious predicament. Though
every other part of. England has suffered from too much water this summer, Leicester has had too little, and owing to this local drought, the water-supply of the town is on the point of giving out. The town, it - appears, depends upon rain- water collected into reservoirs. These reservoirs are now almost empty. Attempts have been made to get water by boring artesian wells, but apparently without much success. Some water has, however, been got from old wells in the town. The magnitude of the problem may be realised by remembering that Leicester has a population of over two hundred thousand. It is said, however, that in no case will the domestic supply be exhausted. The fear is that the water required for the many large factories in the town may not be forthcoming. This will mean a stoppage of work and also of wages, and must have a disastrous effect on the trade of the town. Last year, the year of drought, Leicester had a rain- fall of over 21 in. Up till now she has this year only had a little over 15 in.
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