OUR WATER SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2724, 20 March 1916, Page 6

OUR WATER SUPPLY

DAM LEVELS BELOW NORMAL

FUTURE STORAGE PROBLEMS

During the last day or two there has boau a rumour that the Citv water Supply is feeling the effects of the long dry spell. It would bo an exceptionally perfect supply ..that would not show some effect after three such hot dry months—a record for the City—as' Wellington has experienced this summer. On inquiry being made at the Town Hall, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Lnko) said that the Engineer had reported that tho water in, the Wainui basin was Bft. below normal. Such has been the heat that the consumption per head per day for tho entire population of Wellington had lately reached 80 gallons, in addition to which extra quantities had been used in watering the streets for health reasons. Speaking in thy interests of the City, the Mayor said that after ordinary requirements were satisfied, there was a call for conservatism in the use of water at the present time. "I'm afraid," said the Mayor, "that somo people in AVcllington think that there is a small liver for every house, bv the demands they make on the system!" This reference'to the water supply brought up once more the desirability of the immediate acquisition of the watershed of the Orongorongo River, and at next Thursday's meeting of the council he would recrmmend that tho council should take steps to approach the Government to i have the Orongorongo forest rosorve vested in tno City Corporation for all time for the purposes of a water supply area. That done, it would establish for all time a water supply that was absolutely pure, being quite free from any deleterious matter from any industrial, or even any farming concern. Tho health of the City was paramount, and he believed that by. the end of the war Wellington would grow by leaps and bound's. That measure of prosperity which had been marked in Wellington for somo years past, and even now„durihg the war period was not affected, promised big developments that no ono could foresee or accurately gauge.' r?o great amount of money was required for storage in utilising the waters of the Orongorongo Rivor, as the stream would be tapped at a certain point and conducted by' means of a tunnel through tho hill to the Waiuui basins, a work which at once would duplicate the supply, and still leave plenty of water to supply tho needs of residents of the Orougorongo Valley below the intake. The Engineer and others had already visited the spot, and plans had been prepared in connection with the work. The Engineer's idea was that tho tunnel should be commenced as soon as possible by a small gang of men who would work continuously until the tunnel was completed without making any great extra demand on the city's finances. This scheme seemed to be the only one that would give Wellington absolute security of supply for a long period ahead. The Mayor also referred to the success which had attended the duplication of the Wainui main, and the erection of tho Bell Road reservoir, which helped to oven the pressure over tho central portion of'the city. While there was no need for alarm, Mr. Luke said it behoved everyone to be 'careful with the water at this time of the year, and he was sure that citizens would exercise the caution requested.