UNIQUE WATER SUPPLY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 220, 6 December 1927, Page 9

UNIQUE WATER SUPPLY

RETICULATING RURAL LANDS HAURAKI PLAINS SCHEME A water supply scheme that is probably unique in the Dominion, in that it is designed primarily to provide Irinking water for dairy cattle, is now being undertaken on part of the Hau- ! raki Plains. Being a reclaimed swamp, the Hau- ! raki Plains is not endowed with natu- j ral fresh water streams, for those ! creeks which previously ran down j from the hills and lost themselves in , the swamp have been diverted to the j sea by the shortest route in the course I of the reclamation works. Hitherto, stock has existed on soda water from artesian bores, drainage from the j swamp (which is highly charged with : vegetable matter in suspension, and has 1 a strong astringent flavour of silt water), which backed up the drains from the sea. As much of the soda , water will corrode through a galvanised irop pipe in a year or two, its effect on stock can be imagined. LONG BEEN CONSIDERED The provision of a fresh water supply has been under consideration ever since the district was opened for settlement, but it was not till July, 1923. that the settlers approachced the Hauraki Plains County Council with the request that it investigate the matter. The council appointed Mr. E. F. Adams, civil engineer, of Thames, to bring down a scheme. Taking into consideration the probable number of cows the land was capable of carrying, the rate of consumption of water by dairy cows, the amount of water available, and the cost as compared to the benefit to be derived. Mr. Adams propounded a scheme to serve an area of approximately 17,000 acres, at a cost of about Ss a cow. The districts or Waitakaruru, Pipiroa, and Xgatea will be served from the Waitakaruru Stream. The settlers in these districts approved of the proposal, and in September, 1925, sanctioned a loan for the purpose. The reticulation is now almost complete. In a few days the Waitakaruru and Pipiroa districts will have water available, but it will probably be well into January before the whole scheme is completed. Industrial trouble in England delayed the shipment of materials for completing the pipeline, and the booster pump, which will raise the pressure in the mains about nine miles below the dam. DIFFICULTY WITH CROSSINGS Some difficult was experienced in overcoming the crossings of the two canals near Waitakaruru, on account of future requirements in dredging .and in moving dredges in and out of the canals. Deviations were necessary to allow of the dredge lifting the road bridges as a part of its performance in going in and out, and the crossings were made with a steel pipe 35 feet long, which can be disconnected and lifted away for the dredge to pass. The interruption should not exceed two hours. As the water will be primarily for stock, it has been arranged that there will be a certain amount of storage on the farms, enabling the demand to he met during 24 hours of the day. This has enabled the capital cost of the scheme to be brought down considerably, as much smaller mains can

be used. Floating ballcocks will be insisted on everywhere. Up to the present the water has been available on some few occasions after the testing of the pipes, and farmers have taken the opportunity of filling their tanks and troughs. Some farmers found that their stock, which all their lives had been accustomed to drinking dirty water, would not drink the fresh water until it had been dirtied with a few shovelfuls of peat. On the first occasions the cattle plunged the whole of their heads into the cJear water, thinking the troughs were nearly empty, and were so surprised that they would not return.