Dunedin's Water Famine

Chronicle (Levin), 18 March 1948, Page 3

Dunedin's Water Famine

DUNEDIN, March 17. Witli Ihe cily still well lilled with centennial visitors Dunedin is faced with the. most serious water shortagc for years, and unless the reserves are improved in the near futhre the position will inevitably become critieal. Eince the pressure is reduced to a minimum practically. throughout the day manufacturers, business firins, bakers, butchers and others are hnding extreme diliiculty im carrying on. Not the least of "tlie repe'rcussjons is" the difficulty experienced by the milk treatment s'tations which require larger' quantities of water for cleaning and cooling, one elfect being that -it has been found necessary'to discontinue tha •upply of milk to schools. Hospitals are also experiencing the ntmost inconvenience and to^.ensure having sufficient water for each day are adopting lie praetiee of stprlng enough. in. the early liours when tlie'Taps are ftilictionng to see them tlxrqugh the ,next 21 hours. '' " - dome dentists, fmdipg their taps dry, have had to suspend work from time to time and hotels and restaurants have experienced the greatest difficulty in getting dishes washed. One girls ' hostel catering fqr students has had buclcet brigades . in action carrying supplies from the Water of Leith— a streani which itself. is shrinlcing visibly under the influence of the protracted drought conditions.