Pukekohe's Water Scheme

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 187, 30 June 1916, Page 3

Pukekohe's Water Scheme

TO THE EDITOR] Sir,—lu December, 1914, the Council submitted a loan proposal to for the erection of a reseiroir and the purchase of all necessary fittings, etc., for same, and purchase of any land that might be necessary for reservoir site and waterworks site proposals; the reservoir to be of 600,000 gallons capacity, the cost of same to be £2.310, plus £3OO for incidental expenses and first year's interest. This decision was arrived at after receipt and discussion of Mr Lockie Gannon's report,. for which an account of some £9O was received. In dealing with the pressure reduction valve Mr Gannon said :—" This valve has at times got out of order by being jammed with stones, etc." MiGannon also expressed doubt as to a sufficiency of water at the present power house, and he recommended dispensing with all dead ends. In February, 1915, Cr Hubbard stated, at the Council meeting, that the main difficulty was with the generator box, but a new generator box had been ordered. In December, 1915, the Council decided to and did submit a loan proposal to the ratepayers, the reservoir then proposed being of 300,000 gallons capacity. With various incidentals the amount of the loan was to be £6300. At the Council meeting of June of this year we find another report with a recommendation this time for a reservoir of 100,000 gallon capacity. The cost, including incidentals, is put down at £4OOO plus £IOOO for dead end connections and su r i>ri>»es in the labour market. Thus we have first a .500,000 gallon reservoir and incidentals, the estimated cost of which is put at £2BOO. Then a second proposal for a reservoir of 300,000 gallon capacity and incidentals, with estimated cost £6300. Thirdly and lastly we get a reservoir of 100,000 gallon capacity and incidentals, with estimated cost £SOOO. Upon a comparison of these figures and a perusal of the reports of discussions by the Council upon this subject one can come to but one conclusion, viz., the Council want to do something and to do that something without carefully considering the result. Now coming to the figures as supplied at various times, as to the quantity of water available and used. Mr Gannon says the bore and well give approximately 800 C gallons per hour; this at six hours per day will yield 48,000 gallons per day. This will give 336,000 gallons per week of seven days. This for six months would yield 6,900,000 gallons. Mr Wyatt in August 1915 says he kept a careful record for six months ending September 30th, 1914, and there was accounted for by meter, evaporation, etc., 5,364,000 gallons. Thus we find a difference of a million and half gallons between the two lots of figures. Coming to Mr Wyatt's figures as reported in Juno of this year in reference to Mickey's dam supply, he quotes a supply of 06,100 gallons, and in estimating the requirements of those supplied, viz., Harris Street and all the town to the north of that street, he shows a daily consumption of 23,000 gallons. This for a week is 161,000 and for six months is 4,186,000 gallons. Now, let us look back to Mr

Wyatt's report of August, 111 14, and compare it with that of June of this year. He repous that 5,364,000 gallops were pumped for the six months ending September 15th, 1915, but that only 2,593,750 gallons were accounted for, showing a loss of 2,770,250 gallons. Now, in his estimate when dealing with the supply from Hickey's dam, ho says the daily consumpliun of those supplied in Harris street and those in the north i,s 23,500 gallons daily. This works out at 161,000 gallons for the week and 4,186,000 gallons for six months. Thus we have one report showing 2,593,750 gallons for all consumers tor six months. Then we have another report showing 4,186,000 gallons for part ot the bortugh—evidently acme miscalculation. If the consumers in the restricted area are using, as Mr Wyatt says, 23,000 gallons

daily, Buch, as already stated, "fr amounts tor six months to 4,186,000 gallons, and with Mr Wyatt's figures showing that tbe present pumping provides 5,364,000 gallon?, it is pietty safe to say that if we include all the consumers it would show a pretty close amount consumed to compare with the amount pumped. Where then dots the Herious leakage come in that is said to necessitate an alteration of tbe system 7 —l am, etc., A RATEPAYER.