WATER SUPPLY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20079, 27 October 1939, Page 4

WATER SUPPLY

POSSIBLE DAMAGE EFFECTS OF EARTHQUAKE AUXILIARIES REQUIRED "I have investigated every suitable scheme for an emergency water supply that would be necessary in the event of a catastrophe such as an earthquake, and all appear to fail under certain conditions. It would be impossible to supply 16,000 people,” said the borough engineer, Mr. E. R. Thomas, lust evening, at the meeting of the Gisborne executive committee of the emergency organisation.

On the motion of Mr. O. G. Thornton, seconded by Dr. A. L. Singer, the following special committee was elected to assist the water committee to prepare a full report on the available supplies and the steps that should be taken to arrange for those supplies:—Messrs. Thomas, Thornton, G. M. Beaumont, F. Matthewson, and Dr. L. S. D. Davis. Position of Town Districts Mr. Thomas explained that further investigation would cost money, and asked that the water committee be given the assistance of additional advice. “In a major earthquake, ail the bridges in the borough would probably be destroyed and the water mains with them. There were 2700 people residing in the Kaiti district and, as there were no wells on that side of the river, they would be without water for a few days at least. In the Whataupoko and Mangapapa districts there was a population of 5500, with no wells that could be called upon to supply water,” said Mr. Thomas. “In the town area there are a few wells (hat might keep the 7800 residents in supplies.”

He said (hut it would not be long before all sources of supply would be polluted, and people would not be able properly to sterilise the water by boiling, because electric and gas supplies would also have broken down. If the water was improperly boiled, under those circumstances it would not be long before an epidemic broke out.

Steam For Boiling Water

In that connection, he said that there were a number of steam boilers at Kaiti in the town area, but no boiler on the Whataupoko side of the river with the exception of that at Cook Hospital.

The chairman, Mr. R. F. Gambrill, agreed that the water problem was a most important one. “The more the matter is discussed the more apparent it becomes that an auxiliary supply in both the Kaiti and Whataupoko districls is necessary," said Mr. Thornton. “It might be possible to work on the hills in some manner to arrive at an economical scheme, and civolve something to place before the Borough Council.”

It was then decided to form the special committee to deal with the matter and report back to the next meeting. Mr. Thomas said that there was a sufficient stock of chlorinating chemicals in Gisborne to carry on that necessary work for two weeks, and by that time it. would be possible to get further supplies from other districts.

It was learned from Mr. T. C. Thompson that there were small stocks throughout the district, that could be made use of in time of an emergency.