Borough Water Supply

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 15, 23 January 1948, Page 5

Borough Water Supply

Plan Now Considered May Cost Up To £27,000

It now seems possible that Whakatane might be able to establish a vastly improved Borough water supply for approximately £27,000, which represents a considerable saving on the £35,000 to £40,000 the Council considered it might cost last time the proposition was discussed.

Last week, Mr R. P. Worley, the Auckland civil engineer who has been investigating the proposition on the Council’s behalf, visited Whakatane and met the full Council, which went into ways and means of providing an adequate service at the best possible price without placing too heavy a burden on the ratepayers. 500,000 More After the fullest discussion with Mr Worley, during which all alternatives were considered, the Council met again on Monday night and decided to authorise Mr Worley to seek Health Department approval for a plan which, if adopted, will provide a 500,000 gallon increase in holding capacity.

This plan envisages a new reservoir alongside the old one and working in conjunction with it, a clearing and chlorinating tank near the river served by a low level pump, and an increased high level pumping capacity to lift the cleared water to the reservoirs. * • -• ~'.TWUTSIR The Pressure Problem Though other sites were considered, it was not thought practicable to put reservoirs anywhere else, so the problem of the high pressure created by the fall from the hill site will still exist, and the present system of pressure reduction will have to remain. However, apart from the •ordinary maintenance work that would have been necessary whether a new scheme were adopted or not, present reticulation will handle the water from the proposed new plant. Gravitation Plan Rejected

The Maraetotara gravitation plan was again advanced and found support from Cr J. Creeke, but was rejected on the grounds that it would not provide sufficient pressure, that the land in that area was not good for .holding water, and that it would require a very- high dam. Mr Worley advised against it.

Electrical Engineer’s Report In his routine report to the Council concerning water supply, the electrical engineer, Mr F. W. Ly--saght, recommended continued hose restrictions and an inspection of all daps and fittings likely to leak. He said the demand for water was high and the need for conservation still present. Pumping plants had been in service every day since his last report and were in fair order.