BOROUGH WATER SUPPLY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 43, 12 February 1946, Page 5

BOROUGH WATER SUPPLY

NEED FOR CONSERVATION

HUNDRED GALLONS PER HEAJD USED

The announcement that approximately 220, 000 gallons, of water were used daily in the Borough of W'hakatane, or over one hundred gallons per head per day, caused no little surprise to members of the Borough Council last Monday evening. The Electrical Engineer stated that the pumping station was now in use continuously and that there was at the present time the greatest demand on record.

Mr Lysaglit urged that steps should be taken to check the obvious waste of water which is now going on in spite of, the restrictions and the use of hoses being limited to morning and evening periods. Each year he claimed, the restrictions had been regarded purely as a joke and until some prosecutions were made would continue to he. The Borough had the water but had as yet only a limited accommodation for storage. Auxiliary storage should he the Council’s first concern. The Mayor: It looks like tlie total prohibition of hoses! The Engineer said he did not think that it would he necessary to do that hut residents should be made to realise that the present restrictionc had to be observed.

Cr Canning thought the ratepayers of the Borough were singularly fortunate in having their supply maintained. He warned against the fire danger. The Borough Inspector (Mr M. Penny) who was present said that it Avas incorrect to allege that many people abused the. use of hoses. There Avere only a few ‘sneakers’, lie said avlio should be taught a les-

son. Cr Sullivan saicl that it Avas obvious with pumping going on all round the clock, it Avas obvious that some consideration should be made. He asked what Avould happen in the event of an outbreak of fire on the Strand if the Avater supply was so limited. It Avas surely necessary to have the. lire lighting facilities efficient before the use of hoses on

gardens. It was finalty decided that instead of householders being permitted to Use hoses morning and evening, they he limited to two. hours only 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. daily; further that the inspector be given extra time for the purpose of seeing that the restrictions were, enforced; that the new restrictions be advertised and a suitable warning given and that it be left to the Mayor to take any further steps he may deem necessary.