The Hutt News THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1930. BOROUGH WATER SUPPLY.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 5, 26 June 1930, Page 7

The Hutt News THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1930. BOROUGH WATER SUPPLY.

The remarks made in the last issue of "'The Hutt News" under the above heading have caused quite a large amount of interest among-st residents oil the borough, and more particularly amongst property owners and ratepayers. As we therein remarked there is an evident desire on the part oJ: the public for further.iuformation. And since the appearance. oi* this article this desire for the very fullest information has been made undeniably manifest by the number of requests that have reached us from all sections of the community that the subject should be follpwed up, and the matter fully ventilated. Although, as was previously stated, the matter would appear to be, to a certain extent, sub judiee, and until the result of* the joint committee's deliberations are made public, further comment is undesirable. But even so, there is every reason that the steps which have already been taken by the Council, and which have already been published.^ should be recapitulated, and in view of recent happenings, the facts may possibly be read with added interest. At the meeting' of the Borough Council at the end of January last a full and comprehensive report was received from the Borough Engineer (Mr. A. (x. Bush) ,on the future water supply of the borough. This report, which it is stated embodies the carefully considered opinions of an engineer whose competence and ability has never been questioned. and who has always shown himself to be worthy of the confidence he has enjoyed from tooth Council aiid ratepayers alike. The matJUki* of water supply is one of such burning and vital interest to every resident in the district that we make no apology for republishing in full the lengthy but most interesting report which appeared in these columns on 30th January last. And we commend to the earnest consideration of our readers the opinion of this expert in so far as it refers to the scheme for an artesian supply. For reasons previously set out we do not at present quote Mr. Bush's report as to the City arid Suburban Scheme. This question apparently is to form the subject matter of the proposed conference between the representatives of the two boroughs, and will doubtless give opportunity for further remark at a later stage. Mr. Bush says:— I Lave given very caTeful consideration to the question of the future water supply of this* borough and I am fulily alive to the immense responsibility I Incur in advising you as I do in t-he matter. Four action will no donor be_ governed by the policy you* wisdom dictates, but from engineering; aiid also financial aspects I am confident that my: suggestions are sound. . The tfwo first considerations are (aj Is the artesian supply at least as free from possible pollution or contamination; and equadily suitable from a medical ox fr health point of view as that from the Hutt River source, and (b) Is. the t;nderground supply permanent arid ample for the population which the borough will carry. .1 am entirely satisfied that the artesian supply is much less liable to contamination that the surface supply and Healtoh} Authorities ha>ve failed to find it deflefcerious in any way. All the evidence available points to t-he fact that t&e artesian supply on the eastern side of the Valley exceeds that on the west and I have no hesitation in stating that an abundant supply is available for at least the next 20 years. The suggestion ihas been advanced that tihis artesian water is due to a fault or faults in

the impermeable strata higheT up the river, and that on the Hutt river scheme being developed this supply will cease. TWs suggestion may be simply ignored, for it is a totally incorrect assumption. ■ The next consideration is t-he financial aspect. In this respect the artesian supply scheme is particularly advantageous. Before giving figures I •would touch on the point of re-entry into the City scheme -should that extremely unlikely eventuality arise. This, I understand, has been provided fur on the basis of payment of what may be termed ''arrears'' of subscription. This will, then, merely be a lump payment of a sonicwhat 'large sum which, would- otherwise' nave been met in annual installments and might, I suggest, be met by way of loan paid up in a considerable number of years subsequent to the payment of iae capital amount. We shoul ?l, therefore, be no worse off, but better, since until that time, we should, 'have obtained all pur , water at a much cheaper rate- The possibility of Epuni riding obtaining its water from the Gity scheme, being later included in the borough and subsequent complications which might arise in conseeuenoe, must also receive your consideratiori from the policy view point. THE ARTESIAN SCHEME. If we are to adopt.-.! this scheme it wilr bo necessary, to construct a reservoir oh the eastern hills and to sink additional wells,.with pumping instala-~ tion on the floor of t>he Valley sbmewhere in the industrial area, or adjac Tent |ent to it to the north. Th"c cost of this ! i hstallation and pumping costs must be I added to. our present charges for water in order to arrive a-t a comparison of the schemes. T»he cost;of our.present water supply is as follows:—To interest and sinking fund-on ' £7000 at 6 per cent being interest • and sinking fund on wells, plant, pumping station and land, but not. ■/ I reseo-voir or reticulation .. £420 Power supplied (1928-29) to pump 231 .million gallons .. .. £576 Salaries, wages, repairs and maintenance, certificates, etc . . £689 £1685 The service reservoir capacity is .720,----000 gallons. This supplied 12,000 persons without any restrictions whatever • luring 1928-29, including filling of foaths and fire fighting water —giving an average consumption of 53 gallons per head. .Maximum consumption was in Pe/bruaiy 91.3 gallons per head. Minimum consumption was in September 41.7 gallons per" -head.- l" To this must be added the cost ofadditional plant to be erected on east side of valley as-'follows: — Construction of reservoir 500,000 gallon capacity . . .. £7500 — (Allowance for purchase of necessary'land not made) .. .. £600 Pump £500 Standiby Pump .. .. £800 Bumping Station ..• .. £800 Wells £1000 "Rising main, P.S to reservoir say £1600 £12,000 Thus, interest and sinking fund on £12,000 at I'h per cent . . £900 Pumping charges, power, main- ~ tenanee and wages • .. .. £800 Present cost of water supply .. £1685 Total annual eo&t • . . £3385 [Since the above was in type we mii derstand the conference between th^ Hutt and Petorie Borough Councils has, hetn hel'd, but no information Is yet available for publication.]