WATER SHORTAGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 85, 8 November 1939, Page 5

WATER SHORTAGE

WARNING TO HOUSEHOLDERS *200,000 GALLONS A DAY ? Do the people of Whakatane realise that .during the past few weeks they have been using 200,'000 gallons of water per day ? This tremendous volume works < out at no less than 100 gallons per head of the population, : against the estimated use in the metropolitan centres of from 30 to 40 gallons per day. It is owing to this abnormal 'drain on the town's supply that the Borough Cotmeil has been forced to impose restrictions (mentioned in the advertisement in this issue) pro Inhibiting the use of garden hoses "except when held in the hand until further notice. The position lias jbeen aggravated further by the fact ihat the pumping station has been on an average of 17 hours per day, infringing the peak load of the electrical supply and thereby increasing the cost to the ratepayers. On Friday last the reservoir was practically emptied with the result that the booster pump (serving Hillcrest) was unable to function, and considerable inconvenience resulted.

The council is forced to institute these emergency measures in order to conserve the supply, but we are assured that they wil/l be lifted as soon as the position improves.