WILL BE PROSECUTED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 258, 15 January 1941, Page 5

WILL BE PROSECUTED

WATER-WASTERS BEWARE SERIOUS POSITION IN whakatane ' How many persons in Wha•katane realise that on an average during the last few weeks •every man, woman and child has used on an average no les& -than 150 gallons of water per day. The position was revealed by the. Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, at last MondayX meeting of the Borough' Council, when something of an inquest was held into the very serious position: of the Borough water service and the inspectors were given full powers to prosecute offenders who were wasting water un.nef has over the last used no less than from 200000 to 800,000 gallons per day," said Mr Barry. The average in towns where meters are installed is from -30 to 40 *> u t * ias keen proved in one Borough that before meters were installed the average was 90 gallons. This in no way approaches the heavy Whakatane aver age. Our position is the more seriotis in that the reservoir only holds 250,000 gallons and it 1 means that the pump is working continuously to maintain tha supply. On Friday night last it was empty. The Borough had always reckoned on pumping off peak, in order to escape the heavier electricity costs, but having to pump all day and every day it was becoming a heavy financial burden. Reports. Inspector M. Penny in his report stated that he had made am inspection for the purpose of discovering running hoses, leaky taps, etc. and had issued many warnings, he thought that in most cases the persons approached would take notice. Much of the trouble had been caused through the habit of certain persons leaving their hoses running on the lawns all night. He did not .think there would be much of this in the future.

The Electrical Engineer,, Mr F. W. Lysaght, said that in one section of houses alone lie knew of about twenty hoses which were kept going all night. There had also been quite a few blow-outs in mains which would lead to considerable water going to waste. Recently the pumping had never stopped and it simply meant that the restrictions would have to be enforced or the service could not be maintained*

The Deputy Mayor, Mr S. S, Shapley, declared that the position was most alarming from the Fire Brigade's point of view. Drastic steps would have to be taken.

The council decided to give strict instructions to its officers to prosecute offenders guilty of unnecessary wastage. It was pointed out that the council intended to give gardeners and others as fair a deal as possible, by way of allowing thu use of hoses to a certain extent in the evening, but any abuse of this -concession would lead to immediate action. , ,