HEAVY DRAW-OFF

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20101, 22 November 1939, Page 4

HEAVY DRAW-OFF

CONSUMPTION LEAPS BOROUGH WATER SUPPLY EXCESSIVE USE OF HOSES EARLY' RESTRICTIONS "The volume of wafer flowing in the Waingakc Stream is still more than adequate for our needs, but the excessive draw-off from the mains in Gisborne during the past few days has brought us close to the point where some restrictions must be faced," said the borough engineer, Mr. E. R. Thomas, in reply to an inquiry made to-day as to the adequacy of the municipal water-supply. The engineer stated that while water was going to waste at Waingake and there seemed no reason to expect an early serious diminution in the supply, consumers in Gisborne had used so much water in countering the effects of the past few hot days on their gardens that, pressure in the mains had fallen alarmingly. Although it was hardly more than a week since the last heavy rain experienced in town, hoses were being used extravagantly throughout the borough, with the' immediate result that people on the higher levels were going short of household requirements. The situation was indicated by the pressure-gauge readings of the past two days. Yesterday’s minimum pressure was 351 b.. and at 10 a.m. to-day only 401 b. showed on the gauge. Mr. Thomas added that he realised many people did not appreciate the relation of the draw-off to the general supply, and that extravagant use of water for gardens could reduce the pressure to such a degree that people in the outskirts of the borough, and particularly those on the higher levels, might be deprived of essential supplies.