Winterbourne (stream)

As a simplex name bourne is a stream or river found specifically in chalk and limestone country. The term bourne may be applied to a stream or river that permanently flows. In the compound version the association that winterbourne has with intermittent streams may have arisen from the OE: meaning "winter stream". Compounds of winter with other words for streams are rare. The distribution of burna is based mainly in southern England in the lands that were controlled by the Saxons and Jutes, beyond this area the use of the name is not so common. == Examples ==

The compound winterbourne is associated with intermittent streams. For example, in Sussex there are three designated chalk rivers: the River Ems, the River Lavant and the Lewes Winterbourne in East Sussex. The River Lavant, Winterborne and the upper reaches of the River Ems only flow in the winter. In Dorset there are two rivers called Winterborne that have given their name to a number of villages including Winterbourne Abbas, Winterborne Monkton, Winterborne St Martin, Winterborne Zelston, Winterborne Houghton and Winterborne Whitechurch. In northern Wiltshire, north of Avebury, there are the villages of Winterbourne Monkton and Winterbourne Bassett, and in south Wiltshire, north-east of Salisbury, Winterbourne Dauntsey, Winterbourne Earls and Winterbourne Gunner. In South Gloucestershire there are the villages of Winterbourne and Winterbourne Down. ==Controversy==

The use of chalk aquifers as a domestic water source in Britain has turned many streams and rivers into artificial winterbournes. This effect is controversial, and local campaigns have often been successful in reducing aquifer abstraction and reversing the effect. To mitigate the effects of water abstraction from valuable chalk streams in southern England, a joint venture between the Portsmouth Water Company and Southern Water PLC is building a reservoir at Havant. It will be filled with surplus water abstracted from local springs in the winter. The purpose of the reservoir is to facilitate a reduction in abstractions of water from the River Test and the River Itchen, in Hampshire as well as increasing the resilience of future water supply. ==See also==