CITY'S WATER SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2378, 6 February 1915, Page 8

CITY'S WATER SUPPLY

NEW SCHEME TO SUPPLEMENT PRESENT SERVICE The City Engineer (Mr. W. H. Morton) asked the City Council last night io agree to a scheme for considerably augmenting the city's water supply. It appears that the present dry weather has revealed the fact that the existing supply does not leave a largo surplus to come and go on. The council adopted the engineer's proposals, and decided to wait on the Government, with a view to securing the catchment area concerned. Mr. Morton's report reads: "I desire to report . . . having during the last week visited Wainui-o-mata and the Orongorongo Valley. It will be remombercd that some time ago I reported to the council upon the necessity of securing the Orongorongo Valley for future water supplies for the city. A survey has been mado showing what will requiro to be done in order to bring water from the Orongorongo Stream into the Wainui Valley and into fcho present water supply system of the city. "I found that tho Orongorongo Stream was much larger than the Wainui Stream, there being nearly double tho quantity of water llowing thorein. Tho water appeared to be of very much bettor quality and in every way suitable for augmenting tho city, supplies. To obtain the water from this valley and bring it into the Wainui Stream' will necessitate the driving of a tunnel about two miles in length, through | which a pipe can' be laid to be controllablo at either end. 1 have not yet prepared any estimate for the necessary works, but in view of the fact that at tho present time the draw-off from tho Wainui reservoir is 5,000,000 gallons per day, and, including Karori, I ostimate the total maximum daily supply at 5,250,000 gallons, this matter should rseceivo favourable consideration. "The appearance of .tho'overflow at Wainui last Friday led mo to the con--elusion that in a week's time, if the dry weather continues, the city will bo. drawing on the storage provided. It' may be some years before the actual necessity for the Orongorongo. supply is felt, but I strongly urge that proceedings should be commenced with a view to ultimately using this water for the city supply. I have also to point out that the construction of a drive, as reforred to above, will take some years to complete, that tho payments for same would be small, and carried over a considerable period. Personally, I am of opinion- tnat the work could be proceeded with at short notice, and paid for gradually out of revenue. '•'Tho first essential is, of course, to socuro all the Orongorongo catchment area, which would be approximately fourteen miles in extent, and which, as far as I cm see, is of little value for any other' purpose. In my opinion, every effort should be made to secure this' area for the additional water sup-, ply of the city."