WATER SUPPLY For Domestic, Fire, Street, and Sewage Purposes.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 982, 10 January 1883, Page 2

WATER SUPPLY For Domestic, Fire, Street, and Sewage Purposes.

The following report has been prepared by the Borough Engineer, and was to have been submitted to the Council on Monday. Pressure of other business prevented its consideration then, but it will bo read to-night at the adjourned meeting : To his Worship the Mayor and lors : Sir and Gentlemen, —I have (he honor, in compliance with yonr instructions, to report on a temporary water supply. I might say I have given the matter considerable study, but find it a most difficult subject to deal with. An abundance of pure water for the purposes named cannot be too soon obtained, and as previously reported on by mo, a permanent supply would probably cost from twelve to twenty thousand pounds. Believing • the Borough will not be able to entertain such an expensive work at present, I have inspected all likely places in and about the town fora temporary supply. I would first point out that the old watercourse crossing Victoria street, and which feeds the lake, has become completely dried up ; also that the lake does not average a depth of 2ft of water for an area of acres. It is filthy and stagnant, nevertheless it is capable of vast improvement, both in cpiantity and quality ; and assome doubt’ exists as to how the sewage will pass through the lake without polluting the water, I take this as a fitting opportunity to explain my views on the subject. First. I should open a ditch from the sea to the lake, at which place I should erect a sluice gate arranged to allow the water to run off in the early part of the winter, when all rubbish and filth could be removed and the lake deepened if thought necessary. Secondly. I should lay two twelveinch pipes from its source, one carrying the surface water into the lake, the other conveying, the sewage as far as the end of Surrey street; from thence through the lake by an iron pipe to beyond the sluice, or properly speaking lock gate; thence to the coast by the open drain already referred to. To make the lake wafer available, it would require to be raised 15 feet to Taplin’s corner, 30 feet to the Post Office, or 100 feet to top of Mount Gladstone. It is scarcely necessary to remark that, from whatever source the supply is procured, it will be necessary to have a storage reservoir, and at a considerable elevation above the town, or, as a temporary accommodation, tanks raised on treaties. Mount Gladstone is the most suitable place for the former. I will now describe the various sources I have examined : 1. Patea river water at the end of Cornwall street is affected by tides, and cannot be considered pure or suitable, although if taken at low water would be fit for all purposes mentioned, except domestic use, and this could in a groat measure bo remedied by filtering. However, it would have to be- raised 142 feet to the level of the Post Office, or 205 feet to Mount Gladstone, and therefore considering cost of raising and its impurity, may, I think, be discarded. The distance to Mount Gladstone would be about 60 chains. 2. The Railway reservoir also is scarcely worth making any note upon, ns there would be difficulty in obtaining the surplus water not required for the Railway Department. It has a fall of 50 feet to the flat, consequently, could be raised by means of a ram to Egmont street. It fills 30 tanks per diem, and supposing you obtained half the supply, it would scarcely be of any use ns only a seventh part of the available water would reach Egmont street, distance to Mount Gladstone about 130 chains. 3. About 35 chains to the east of No. 2 source two springs unite at the foot of a spur. The water is of good quality and has a fall of 50ft to the Patea river bridge. This source would require a small dam, and about two miles of say “ 2iu, or Sin.” iron piping with ram. The water in the creek is sufficient for all purposes; but, as only a 7th part could be relied upon by the means of transit mentioned, before adopting this source a careful survey should be made (150 chains to Mount Gladstone,) 4. Sherwood Park lake has not quite so much water as that in No. 3, but would answer all purposes for many years to come : it has a fall of 50ft below a dam lately constructed ; the water is excellent in quality, and has the advantage of being within a short distance of Mount Gladstone. This place seems to mo suitable in all respects. I would mention that its source springs from near the cemetery ; however, the surface of the cemetery slopes away in the opposite direction, and also there is a space of over 12 chains of subsoil between. Therefore 1 think there could be no objection raised on thic point, at least until the requirements of the town demanded a larger supply. 5. It may be well to consider two other probable means of supply, namely, to build large underground tanks in the following places : One, in Victoria street at its junction with Monmouth street; one in Egmont street, at corner of Hadfield street; one in Leicester street, between Dorset and . Devon streets ; one in Bedford street, near Devon street; and, if required, one at the end of Rutland or Surrey street, , near the lake. The water from those

tanks would require to be raised at least 15ft for filling watering carts, and at least 30ft for the purpose" of supplying smaller tanks, placed at suitable places in the main street, for fire purposes. This can be achieved by means of the pnlsometer steam pump, or, for the sake of cheapness, by windmills. When all the tanks are full, the surplus could be arranged to flow into the lake. 6. Before recommending the adoption of No. 5, I would advise sinking, «py, three artesian wells in any of the places mentioned in No. 5. I am aware that the formation of the country is not avourable for those wells, nevertheless it is quite possible a sufficient quantity of water may find its way, at least, to the surface, in which case long carriage would be avoided. The water from these wells, or the tanks, might be filtered, and made suitable for all purposes, if the sewerage of the Borough were complete. 7. Rainfall from houses, I consider out of the question. The buildings in Pa tea are very irregular in shape, size, and height, and are not close.together and the cost of condnctTtig the water to tanks in the street would be considerable, also the supply would bo limited and unreliable. It might answer in winter season, bnt what would fill these tanks if they were in existence at the present time? Further, I would remark that I think this method would he an evil, as I consider the sandy soil of this Borough requires all the rain water which falls to absorb the dust and other objectionable matter continually accumulating on its surface. Indeed, I say, earth closets should be used and enforced at once, ns it must be borne in mind that the inhabitants of this town, at this season of the year, arc entirely dependent on shallow wells, which water is the rainfall absorbed by the subsoil during the wet season.

Assuming the Council approve of one of the snpplics mentioned in this report, or adopt some other, I will how describe the nnder-gronnd tank system. Along the main street, the water as a first necessary being delivered in Egmont street at its junction with Victoria street, I should place one at each of the following places, viz. Victoria street, Post Office, Bank of New Zealand, Gibson’s corner, Central Hotel, and Taplin’s corner, a Sin iron pipe connecting each, and the overflow being conducted into the lake. The plan I lay before yon shows the capacity of each tank, and the section, the run ot the pipe connecting each. The dust would be much allayed by having asphalt channels along each side of Egmont street which could bo flushed every morning with water, as carried out in Melbourne and other towns.

A tip dray should be procured, which would answer for carting the accumulated sediment in sumps and rubbish from streets, and if constructed as I should suggest, by removing the top Fame, having the shatts and tip made to fix firmly together by iron strap or bolt, an iron or wooden lank can he placed thereon and used for watering the streets. And if the supply named in clause No 5 be adopted, the cart instead of returning to the chief head of supply (Victoria street) each journey, could proceed to the nearest trestle tank to replenish. This would save several trips in the day, and enable two carts to perform the duty of three ; besides the advantage of not allowing time lor the surface of the street to dry up, as would be the case had the cart to return to Victoria street ev--ry trip. In conclusion, I am of opinion that No. 3 source of supply is the best, and would suggest that a survey be made. This will involve some slight expenditure, as bush lines will have to be cut, and some excavation made, for the'purpose of ascertaining capacity, &c. I have, (fee., E H. Bee re, r Borough Engineer.