WATER SUPPLY FOR STOCK

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22509, 17 September 1938, Page 10

WATER SUPPLY FOR STOCK

ASHBURTON RACE SAFEGUARDED

PUMPS WILL ENSURE FULL FLOW

There appears to be no possibility of the flow of water in the Ashburton stock-race being interfered with by construction work on the Rangitata diversion race. Some time ago, when it was discovered that the route of the race would cut across the stock-water race near the intake, farmers who rely so much on the old stock channel for water for their sheep and cattle in summer became alarmed; but now an ingenious pumping scheme has been completed which will ensure the maintenance ,of supplies as long as is necessary. .

The construction of this; pumping plant was no small adjunct of the major scheme.. .The stock-race carried a great deal of water—some of it is even used for 'domestic purposes—and it was necessary to put in machinery that would lift the water from the Rangitata at a point below the construction works and make the pipes, intakes, and weir safe against the floods which so often come down the river. . To make absolutely sure of a regular supply, two pumps have been installed on the banks of the Rangitata, and when it is necessary they will shoot the water up the high banks into the .race which runs along the Rangitata to the plains for many miles. One of these pumps alone is able to send up water equal to the total capacity of the stock-xaqe.. The normal flow from the old intake near the Rangitata Gorge will be interrupted for a total neriod, of two years, until early in 1941. when it is expected that the race will be delivering the irrigation water on to the plains between Rangitata and Hinds. Every precaution has been taken -to protect the pumping station, and during the recent heavy flood on the Rangitata—the highest in living memory—no damage was done at all. The engineers on the job believe that the steps they have taken to keep up the supply of water in the race will be-adequate.