BURSTING OF A WATERWORKS RESERVOIR.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3669, 18 April 1883, Page 3

BURSTING OF A WATERWORKS RESERVOIR.

Neav Plymouth, This day

Shortly after 2.30 yesterday afternoon the reservoir at the Avaterworks burst at the side, immediately opposite the valve t-OAver. The Avutei- -v\-;v.s turned. o_ tis soon _s tlie accident AA-as observed, so as to empty the reservoir, .virion avus nearly full. Had the accident happened at niglit instead of the day, the consequences Avould have been even more disastrous. It appears that the hill against Avliich the reseiwoir is built had subsided, and this had caused the basin to collapse. The damage done to the reservoir is irreparable, as the Avhole concrete basin has been fractured. The course of subsidence appears to have commenced at the opposite side of the basin from the yah'e-toAvei', and from thence to the centre of the reservoir, Avhere it breaks off at angles, thus completely dissecting the basin. The reservoir is situated at a distance of 150 feet from the edge of the hill, .vhieh is very precipitous for a depth of over 300 feet, and the evident conclusion is that it has been built too near the edge of the cliff, AA-hich is composed of loose friable soil, and the full ay eight of the Avater has doubtless caused the hill to subside. The banks of the resen-oir haA-e not fallen, there being only a fissure in the earth.