THE BOROUGH WATERWORKS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 215, 24 July 1914, Page 1

THE BOROUGH WATERWORKS.

Waterworks Engineer's Report. At last week's meeting <>[ the Pukekohe Borough Council the Waterworks Engineer, Mr Wyatt, presented the following arnusl report for jear ending March 31st:— "Pumps.—The pumps have been working on an average of 4£ days per week and have given every satisfaction, and are to dat2 minus of any knocking or rattle, and work very smoothly. These pumps are subjected to a big strain whilst working under the full bead and require careful attention. 'lhe brasses, or bearing.-, on same have been repeatedly taken up durirg the past twelve month?, lhe pump i* giving, whilst driven at 45 revtlutions per minute, about 82 per cent of the mechanical efficiency of the b.p. developed for same. "Engine and Gas Plant. —1 have had occasion, two or three times during the year, to draw the piston of the engine, and found the ring J of same wearing smoothly end evenly; all the valves have been kept ground in from time to time. Owing to the water circulating tanks being set upon made up ground they have subsided and gi.t out of th2 required level. I will endeavour to give this matter the required attention in the near futuie. 1 would beg to point out that this engine, when installed, was meant only to drive tte pumps; since then, however, it has been found necessary to use same to drive ihe air compressor which is used for raising the water from the bores to the well, and this takes approximately 12 b.hp.; this leaves a very small margin of h.p., that can be developed on coke fuel, to take the place of any defects which might ariHe in engine, gas plant, etc., such as bid coke, leak in valves on the engine, or tightening of packing glmds on plungers. "Gas Plant, etc.—'lhe generator requires re-bricking with fire bricks, and having the necessary bricks on hand I will attend to same cn the first opportunity. The scrubber, or gas purifier, has been refilled and will not require further attention for approximately six months. "Air Compressor. —This has been working satisfactorily and has given veiy little trouble. "Bore Holes and Well.—lhe bore holes combined give approximately 6000 gallons per hour, and have shown very little variation for the past twelve months. Owing to the bores being cased with black iron pipe the water from same tastes slightly when first starting the bores, but this soon disappears after about half an hour's pumping. The water coming from same is cl'.ar and bright. "Well Holes.—The springs which run into the well do not become available until the pumps have lowered the water to a depth of 12 feet, we then receive from this source approximately 1000 gallons per hour. After the well has been filled from the bores ths pumps are started and kept going until they lower the water in well to a depth of 20 to 22 feet; they are then stopped until the well is re-filled. By this means we can only get approximately GJ hourß' actual pumping in an 8J hour day. The com pressor is run continuously. Owing to the sides of the well being tapered in at the bottom the suction pipe of the pump rests hard agamst same, and requires extending more to the middle of the well hole to prevent any grit, etc., entering the pumps, which is detrimental to the valves of same. A recorder is necessary to record the rise and fall of water iu the well, 'lhe spring outside power-house was only available for foui months this year whereas last year it was available for 6J months. "Power-bouse. —A considerable number of impiovements have been effected in and around the powerhouse, including the erection of a coke shed, which will enable from 25 to 30 tons of cuke to be stored if necessary. This will obviate the necessity of carting coke during winter months when the roads are in a soft condition. Other improvements

! carried out incluJa the gua ding of I belt?, guards ard hacd rails around machinery, fixing of pressure guage, installing pelton wheel for starting engine, concreting tte floors of three small rooms in rear oi" main building, and several other small matters; the majority of which have been done during the time that the plant has been working. "Reservoir. —The absence of an indicator to enable the heigkt of water in reservior to be observed at the power house has sorely feit, as I would teg to point out that the only method at present is ly timing the pumps, which owing to the consumption varying is a very unreliable method, or by payirg a visit to the reservoir once or sometimes twice per week, which takes approximately two hours per visit; by following the above method we have on several occasions during the last year been pumping over the top of the ie;ervoir. The reservoir has been kept at all times practically full to ensure a good supply of water in case of fire, but I would beg to point cut that tie supply being obtained from deep bore holes the water from same scums over with a green vegetation when exposed to the light and sun; tlso, owing to the partition or dividing wall being insufficiently high to allow sufficient water to be stored in case of fire, I have be:n unable tJ give tho cleaning of «serveir proper attention.

"Risirg Main from Power House to Keservair.—By installing an open air pipe in an air lock, or pocket, found on this main in the vicinity of the reservoir and alt'ring the hydrant valves, the usual blow or geysers have been conspicuous by their absence. The absence of stopvalves on this main have been sorely felt, as in the event of a broken bolt, or a split coupling ring, taking place on the low levels where the pressure is greatest, the whole Bervlce has had to be shut down and the main emptied from reservoir to power house at a total loss of approximately 20 to 22 thousand gallons of water, "Break Pressure Valve at Moore's Corner.—The action of this valve is governed by a small tap, or cock, connected to the bottom of the cylinder. This tpecial fitting has many bad features. Placed as it is on the supply it has caused a considerable amount of anxiety snd also a considerable amount of labor to keep it in anything like working order. Several times during the year the main from reservoir to power house had to be emptied to effect repairs to same; and I have fcund that it has been almost impossible to keep this valve water tight, which would be n:cessary to prevent the continuous waste which is new going on when there is no water being used frcm the reticulating mains. At present the leak fam this valve 19 allowed to run to waste to prevent the full head or pressure coming on the reticulating mains when the pressure rises from 130 to HOlbs per square inch through the pressure relief valves. If thh method was not adopted the full pressure would come on the town mains from the reservoir, and would be liable to cau3e a considerable amount of harm by straining the meters, tap 3, pipes, etc., by decreasing the life of ssme; it would al:o be liable to displace all main pipes which would probably leak at the joints, when tbe pressure is again released, owing to the pipes not coming back to their proper position. Should this leak be stopped completely this valve would require to be continually in motion, which action would make the pressure on pumps very erratic. Should thin valve at any time be temporarily caught up an released suddenly, cau ing a change in the velocity of the water cwing to the high pressure or head behind same, (he water hammer set up by the above action would be liable to cauEe a considerable amount of harm, especially if the pumps were working full head. Another bad feature of this valve is, and always will be, when the consumption becomes greater and having to use the one pipe for the pumps and also for supplying the reticulation mains, that this valve will be, during the day time, continually in motion, which will cause a continual fixation of pressure on the pump; and as the reflux, or relief, valve on pumps is set to release at 201bs above the energy required to pump the water into the reservoir, owing to the head of water behind same it takes a very slight motion of this valve to raise the pressure 20lfcs, honno n rnnairlprahls (lliantitV ol

water will pafs back into the well in t ad of to the reservoir. "Reticulating Main.—A considerable amount of extenfior.s have been made to the reticulating mains, most of which have been carried out in cast iron pipe with hemp gaskm and letd joir.ts. Five hundred pounds were to-rowed for this work which has now betn expended, with the result that 4? full consumers and 16 hslf-rate consumers have been addtd to the suptily; which meanc, taking the minimum charge, a revenue of £52 per annum for an expenditure of £SOO. 1 would beg to point out that the above extensions have been laid out in view of future continuation of same, and all dead ends at present, practicable, will be coupled up to comple'e a continuous circuit, which will give a more efficient flow in case of tire. More stop valvss are required on ttese mains, as at present, when the water has to be cut off to effect repairs or to make new connections, etc., on aDy of the side or main streets, practically the whole supply has to ba temporarily cut off whiht carrying out any of these works, and a considerable amount of water has to be allowed to run to waste in consequence of the mairs having to be emptied. "More hydrant valvfs are required in the main street, ss at present, should a fire occur opposite one of the hydrants and on the «aae side of the street, if the lire had obtained a good hold before the arrival of the brigade, the heat from same would render ths plug of no effect and to reach one of the other present plugs woul i require an immense amount of tote which would make the working of the fire much more difficult. Also for watering the street by hydrant, as at present, the road can only be watered in places owing to the plugs being so far apart, which does not give satisfaction.

"Meters. makes, cr ki'ds, of meters have been adopted. The Davies-Shsppard which is a rotating or deferential meter, all of which make in use are of three-quarter-inch size for a half-inch supply. The prices of the lespective half-inch and threequarter-inch ireters are the same, but the life of a three-quarter-inch meter in ita rotating parts is double ttie life of 3 halfinch meter, as follows:—1 he drum of a half-inch meter revolves 277.fi revolutions per galljn; the drum of a threequarter-ii.ch meter revolves

132.5 revolutions per gallon. They are also more suited for lower heads than tha other make of meter adopted, viz., the Frost Patent, which is a double acting piston meter and is more suited for an excessive pressure than the Davies-Sheppard meter. Both of these meters are giving general satisfaction. Aa time goes on and the supply becomes more established, the advantage of the meter system will be felt, as it reduces the cost of working expenses. In this connection I would beg to point cut that the amount of water that can be used has a limit, while the amount of water that can bs wasted has no limit. "Water consumers and nonconsumers.—There are at present 190 full consumers (including licenses, etc.) and IU6 nonconsumers tor the first half-year and 95 for the last half-year. Twentyfour of the full consumers are out of the water rating areß, from whom we have received from Match 31st, 2913, to March olst, 1914, a total cf £4B for water consumed. V A note of advantage to nonconsumers). "Labour on Mains, Meter Service, etc.— Up to the end of last April, when we were busy with the extensions of the mam, three men, one of whom was assisting at the power house, were permanently employed on the waterworks, but since that time I have been able to carry on with the part assistance of one man; part of wtose time is employed on the waterworks and the other part on the roads. 13y carrying out the duties of inspector and other sources, I have been able to assist the waterworks qccount to the extent of £6O, which goes to reduce tne workirg txp-msea of the waterworks. "1 would beg to point out to the non-consumers that, now the waterworks system has become an established fact, it behoves everyone to become connected with the 6ystem, as by so doing they are materially assisting to make the scheme a financial success. The cost cf working expenses for, say, 400 would be approAimately the same as for 200, or a very little increase if any. As soon as a sufficient number of full consumers are obtained it will considerably reduce the amount to be collected by special rate for interest and sinking fund on waterworks loan.'' The Mayor moved that the engineer be thanked for the comprehensive report he had submitted and that the report ba adopted. Cr Hamilton, chairman of the Waterworks Committee, in seconding the motion, paid a high tribute to the splendid work done by the engineer and the valuable services rendered the borough. Cr Hurley, a member ot the Waterworks Committee, epoke in similar strains, aftsr which the motion was put and carried.