THIRSTY CITIES.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1923, Page 1

THIRSTY CITIES.

ALanehestcr Corporation, already providing an average of 52 million gallons of water daily to a large area, has boldly grappled with the problem of growing requirements by the purchase of ilaweswater, one oi the smaller Cumberland lakes. Nearly 24,000 acres of land, part of the great Lowthcr estate, have been bought, and a loan of £10,000,000 ito he floated for the work. A large reservoir is to bo constructed in a neighbouring valley and the level of the lake is to be raised 95ft. Consequently Mavdale’s quaint little church and the “Dun Bull,’ a famous old hostelry, with two or three farms and other dwellings, will be slits merged. The purchase of Ilaweswater is not Alanchester’s first call upon Lakeland for water. Over forty years ago the still more beautiful Thirlinerc was bought, and an aqueduct nearly 96 miles long conveys the water to Alanchester. This work was carried out without any desecration of the scenery. The aqueduct from Ilaweswater will measure over 74 miles. It is interesting to know how others of the largest cities in Britain obtain their water. Glasgow also looks to a lake for most of its supply—the romantic Loch Katrine, beloved by Scott. This is about 35 miles from the centre of the city, and the daily supply is between 75 and 80 million gallons. Birmingham gets most ot its water front the valley of the Elan, a tributary of the beautiful River AVye. The supply is collected in large reservoirs near Rhayader, in Alid-Wales, and conveyed by an aqueduct nearly 74 miles long to Birmingham.

Leeds does not go so far for Ihe precious liquid, the reservoirs being only twelve miles from the city. The source is the River Washburn, a tributary or the Wharfe. And what of London, witli its teeming millions? Its water supply, controlled by the Aletropolitan Water Board, does not come from rippling hilistreains or placid lakes. Old Father Thames and the River Lee provide the great city with mod of i 1 wo!or; the rest is obtained from gravel hods and wells within the Thames let sin and from the Chad well Spring in Hertfordshire.