CLEAR WATER COMING

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 15, 8 April 1927, Page 9

CLEAR WATER COMING

ANALYST’S OPINION FILTRATION WILL DO IT EVIDENCE TO COMMISSION “I have no hesitation in stating that there should be no difficulty in successfully filtering the Waitakere supply and that a good sample will result,” was the opinion stated by Mr. A. J. Barker this morning in giving evidence before the Royal Commission now investigating local water conditions. Unfortunately, said Mr. Barker, the financial value of a pure water supply was not sufficiently understood. As long: as the water looked all right and was safe, that was the end of it. In New Zealand the same value was not set on the life of a citizen as was the case in America, where a certain value was set on every citizen, and where, in the case of death, the loss was computed in money and placed against the department responsible. SAMPLES PRODUCED Mr. Barker produced a number of samples taken at various dates, and which showed varying degrees of sediment. The samples recently taken at Mount Eden were also discussed, Mr. Barker stating that the water was allowed to run for about five minutes before the samples were taken. CAUSE OF THE COLOUR That the condition of the worst sample was not the result of pipe erosion was evidenced, he considered, by the fact that the same mineral and vegetable matter was present in each, only in one case five times as bad as in the other. Although the presence of sediment did not necessarily mean that disease germs were present, he considered that sediment was to a certain extent harmful, the introduction of silt and decayed vegetation into the body lowering powers of resistance and laying the body open to the influence of disease germs. Samples taken from Waitakere accorded a filtration process similar to that which was at present being installed by the City Council produced a clean sample, and one which he would designate a good sample. Once the filtration plant was in operation he was satisfied that no further trouble would be experienced.