MANGAHAO SHORT OF WATER.

Shannon News, 14 January 1927, Page 4

MANGAHAO SHORT OF WATER.

CHIEF ENGINEER'S STATEMENT,

, During the week it became necessary, owing to the absence of rain and the big demand for current, to conserve the water supply in the Mangahao and Arapeti dams. * This was done by closing down the street lighting and other services wherever possible at night, and calling upon the steam plants at Palmerston, Wanganni and Wellington to carrv the load in those places. Questioned as to the shortage of water at Mangahao, the Chief Electrical Engineer of the Public Works Department, Mr Kissejl, said, there was no <:au4e for alarm. "Mangahao has been -arrying for the last twelve ~ month* more power than it was designed to . carry without the aid of the third dam, which is now under construction, and probably will be finished towards the rmd of next winter. It is all right when there is plenty of rain to keep the storage reservoir full. The recent rain in Wellington did not get to Mangahao, rnd ! the storage is beginning to go down Tn anticipation of this—we had the same thing last winter —we have made arrangements with all our customers (the local authorities) who possess fuel plants to take some of .the load! on those plants. . . ~ That enables us to shut down? some''of the machines at Mangahao arid store up some more water in the reservoir." Mr Kissel stated that the Department did not anticipate that anybody would be obliged, to go sh6rt of power, as sufficient for all requirements would be provided, it was expected, by the fuel engines, in conjunction with the water. At least one of. the power boards being supplied from Mangahao was actually talcing somewhere about 30 per cent, more power than was contracted •to supply over five years. So far, the Department had not reduced the supply to anybody, and did not anticipate having to' do so for some time- at least. A good rain from the north-west would help matters considerably and enable Mangahao to carry on again independ ently. THE THIRD DAM. Questioned regarding the third dam at Mangahao, Mr Kissel stated that wh<m it was completed there would be 1:0 difficulty, it was anticipated, in power supply until the limit of the powerhouse machinery was reached. It was expected, then, with the rapid growth of load, that in next winter or the following year'the plant capacity might not be 'sufficient to meet all requirements, and it might still be necessary to call on the inter-connected fuel plants for occasional assistance. In view of that contingency the Department was pushing ahead with the construction of the major development, 40,,000 k.v.a., at Waikaremoaua, and the Department's programme provided, for having that in operation by the winter of 1929. It was hoped, however, to \bo able to anticipate that date by about six months.

Yesterday reports of a heavy downfall of rain at Mangahao came to hand, and with them notification that theiv was sufficient water in the dams to enable the Mangahao plant to 'carry on without the assistance of the Palmerston and Wanganui plants. It was anticipated in the early afternoon that provided the rain kept up the assistance of the Evans Bay (Wellington) power house would not be required after last night. A later report indicated thai the dams v. ere almost full and that. Mangahao would carry the full lead independently as from last night.