WAINUI BEACH SANITATION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20047, 20 September 1939, Page 4

WAINUI BEACH SANITATION

WATER SUPPLY PROSPECT WELLS AND SEPTIC TANKS DANGER OF POLLUTION For the purpose of improving sanitary arrangements at Wainui Beach, the Cook County Council to-day decided to call a meeting of residents of the area and in the meantime to secure information regarding a possible water supply. H The matter was reviewed in a letter from the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. L. S. Davis, who reviewed the present desire of residents to instal septic tanks, which, he pointed out, were a danger owing to the pollution of the wells. “Applications are made at intervals to instal septic tanks for new and existing houses at Wainui Beach,” the writer stated. “In many cases the sections are of sufficient area to allow of installation, but as a number of owners are sinking bores and shallow wells for water supply, there is a danger of contamination from these septic tanks. “Apart from septic tanks, however, owners have to deal with waste water on their own sections, and this is also likely to cause pollution.

Definite Policy Advocated

“It therefore would appear wise for your council to adopt a definite policy in regard to the matter, either by not approving of septic tank installations or approving of septic tanks and warning and discouraging the owners against sinking bores for the supply of water for domestic purposes.

“The latter would appear to be the better policy, for apart from the danger from drainage, there is always a danger of the pollution of wells in any populous area. The greater number, if not all the wells, in this area are of the shallow type, the source being merely the subsoil water, which is seldom even considered safe. I would not, for example, consider such a supply as conforming with the requirements of the Health Act.

“In dry weather there is, I understand, a very definite shortage cf water in this area, which calls for the provision of adequate storage of rain water until such times as your council may consider the advisability of installing a water supply." The council agreed that the. matter was one which would require thorough investigation, and it was agreed to call a meeting of residents of the area, in the meantime investigations would be carried out by a committee of the council concerning a possibility of securing a.water supply for the residents on the beach, which was now a thickly populated area.

The committee set up comprised: - The chairman, Cr. W. G. Sherratt, Crs. S. T. Gray, M. L. Holden, J. T. Gordon and J. E. Bensbn.