Crystaline Water From City Mains

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 134, 27 August 1927, Page 1

Crystaline Water From City Mains

RESULT OF FILTRATION SUPPLIES FOR THE FUTURE “W H AT do you think of the Auckland water now?” Two replies cover the opinions of Auckland citizens. “Isn’t it lovely? I think the greatest thing is the bath-water. You us«d to look at it and think you’d be dirtier when you got in than before.” And: “I can drink it now. It used to taste earthy.” Both the Waitakere and Titirangi filtration plants are now in full operation. The City Council’s reservoirs have been cleared of the unfiltered waters, and a clear sparkling fluid is now flowing from the city’s taps—to the delight of everyone. The cloudy dirty-looking water, of past years, is still remembered in comparison with the clear water that has replaced it. It was not harmful, but it was unpleasant, and like unpleasant things it will soon be forgotten. NO ODIOUS COMPARISONS

Cambridge and Ngaruawahia with their splendid water can no longer point with derision to the Auckland supply, nor will Southern visitors look at the water and then inquire if there has been a flood somewhere. The city is paying the price, but it can now hold its head up. The clear waters are the result of the work of the filtration plants dealing with the Waitakere and Nlhotupu supplies, and the liability which the ratepayers undertook, to provide these, was £70,000. The plants give a clear, colourless water, safeguard against bacterial or organic pollution, and correct acidity. A platinum wire, one millimeter in diameter—just under 1-25th of an inch—should be easily visible in daylight, at a depth of four feet in the new Auckland water. THE SUN has previously described the operation of these plants, but at this stage a summary of the supply available from the ranges is of interest. The whole of the present catchment areas are the property of the City Corporation, free from habitation, so that the risk of contamination is negligible. A scheme submitted by the city engineer, which Is being developed now, carries through to 1945, when a total expenditure of £2,160,000 will give a filtered daily supply of 28,000,000 gallons, or sufficient to supply 460,000 people. The sum quoted Includes all works up to date, land purchase, dams, reservoirs, pumping and filtration stations, conduits and mains. If a further supply is then required valleys alone south of Auckland arc capable of providing a further 20,000,000 gallons daily. These are the Mangatawhiri and Mangatangi. WORKS IN HAND At present the Upper Huia dam is well on the way, and tenders are being called for the filtration station, which will be near the present Titirangi station. Waitakere dam is being heightened, and negotiations are under way for the doubling of the capacity of the Khyber Pass reservoir. The Waitakere alterations will increase the daily supply to 10,000,000 gallons, and Huia will eventually add another 4,500,000. Future schemes include the lower Nlhotupu to provide 6,000,000 gallons daily (about 1934), and the Lower Huia, 8,000,000 gallons (about 1945).