WATER SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2734, 31 March 1916, Page 6

WATER SHORTAGE

UEGENT NEED FOE ECONOMY.

When less than a fortnight ago the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) issued a warning to the public to be careful in the use of water the level of the water in fhe Morton- Dam at Wainui was 7ft. below the overflow outlet. That the need for strict economy is a good deal more urgent to-day is proved by the City Engineer's statement that yesterday the water had fallen to 14ft. below the same lovel. The public may have imagined, that the recent rains had restored the. filling powers of the little stream on which Wellington City depends for its supply, but it appears that the .fall at Wainui was much lighter than it was in town, too light, .indeed, to make any appreciable difference to the amount of inflow. | The position to-day is that there are about 60,000,000 gallons conserved at Vfnmui, which amount would last the city for a month if no further rain fell. The Mayor's-warning to economise apparently fell on deaf ears, as the rate of consumption per day never felli With the above facts before them it is an urgent appeal that the city authoriIties make to everyone to check themselves as much as possible in the manipulation of the water taps. I A year ago the council decided to | approach the Government to have tho upper part of the Orongorongo watershed vested in the City Corporation for water supply purposes, but nothing definite was done. Again this year the council has decided upon tho same action,, which decision should not be lost sight of in view of the urgency prejsented by the present situation.