WATER SUPPLY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 83, 7 June 1946, Page 5

WATER SUPPLY

BOARD OF HEALTH’S REQUISITION COSTLY ALTERNATIVE SCHEME One of the Borough Council’s major problems of many years standing was brought to something resembling a head last Tuesday evening when at the Council’s June meeting, a letter from the Board of Health was received advising that the existing water supply to the town was potentially dangerous to health and that consideration should be given to the installation of alternative plant and treatment units. The Board stated further that the Wairere supply was also badly polluted and that the Chairman, the Minister for Health might require the Council to state exactly what it intended to do by way of remedying the position. The Mayor stated that the letter had been received in time for consideration by the Works Committee. A letter had been despatched by the Town Clerk, in which the Board was informed that the Council was fully alive to the position and for some years past had been endeavouring to find a solution. The suggestion that the water was a potential danger to public health was considered a little too wide and allembracing as it was now being heavily chlorinated. Several reports for alternative schemes had been auth 7 iorised but on the main, the cost had been well beyond the Council’s means. The existing debt was £60,000 and hints and threats from the Department were not helpful by way of arriving at a solution. “I think the time has come when we have got to make up our minds on this matter,” said the Mayor, when all correspondence had been read. “It will be a matter of considering the reports in hand and deciding on them, one way or the other.” Cr Warren: Our difficulty is finance. We would gladly undertake an alternative scheme if we could finance it. It’s all very well for the Board to demand these things. If the Hospital rate were eased by the Minister we could meet the new expense, but at present we don’t know where we are. The Mayor: If Mr Nordmeyer as Minister of Health would withdraw our Hospital rate, we might be able to oblige Mr Nordmeyer as Chairman of the Board of Health by accepting a new water scheme. On the motion of Cr Shapley it was decided that a special meeting of the Council be called when all members could be present for the purpose of considering the whole scheme. The Board will also be notified of this meeting.