TOWN WATER SUPPLY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 207, 21 January 1913, Page 4

TOWN WATER SUPPLY.

A THREATENED SHORTAGE. A SERIOUS POSITION. During consideration of the outward correspondence at the Borough Council meeting last evening it was disclosed that on December 31st the volume of Matei at the power-house was insufl'ic--161 t ,?.„ <l !' lve t!,e SMII turbines and a new 200 t.w. machine at the electrical power house. It transpired -that the volume of water coming through the tunnel was 100 h.p. less than the minimum which had been estimated. This meant, it was explained, that in order to guard against exceptionally drv seasons the Council would have to consider the advisability of taking immediate steps f Ol . the construction of a weir £2OOO !t iS CStimated will cost al)out ' In a letter bearing on the subject the Electrical Engineer recited the facts already mentioned, and stated that the inlet to the tunnel should be widened and a grating put in, and the dip in the tunnel where it passes under the Mano-a-mahoe stream should be taken out. Both of these works should be completed before the level of the river at the intake is raised and might be included in the contract for the weir. lie also stated that the long supply of dry weather in December reduced the level of the river to anything below that previously experienced.

An important letter was also read from the Borough Engineer in which he commented on the seriousness of the threatened shortage of water to the town supply. It ran as follows:—"This afternoon (last Thursday) the waterworks caretaker rang me up and said that he was getting no water to the filters. I went out and found that no water wag getting into the water' pipe at the forebay on account of a deposit of leaves and other rubbish on the main screens. The deposit was so thick that the level of the water 011 the river side of the screens was four feet higher than it was on the town side, leaving the filters supply-pi]3e one foot above the water level. Xo water reached the filters from one o'clock till 4.30, which meant a serious loss to the reservoir, especially at this time of the year, when it is being taxed to its utmost capacity. Tf this should occur frequently when the large electric machines start running the town water supply must fail. It may be that when the tunnel is scoured clean the deposit on the screens will not be so thick."

11l a subsequent report, the Boron?]) En gineer stated tlmt lie had visited tlio intake at the Waiwnkaiho River and the pipe-head at the forebav in connection with the town water supply. In it he stated that the water level in both manholes was two feet above the crown

of the tunnel. At the forebay lie found four feet of water over the top of the water pipe. Proceeding, he went on to point out that the town supply pipe might thus be left empty. The pipes were in the position shown on the plans, but he thought it would be advisable after what had occurred to lower the town supply pipe three feet, thus making it impossible for the electric light supply pipe to empty the town supply pipe. TTe suggested that another set of screens be put in at the town supplv pipe well. The 'water consumption of the town at the present time averages To.(100 gallons per hour from six o'clock in the morning to eight o'clock at' night. Tu ennunentins; on the seriousness of the position, the Mayor said the town would be in a bad way if the electric liffht works wan allowed to have first call on the water and leave the town supply dry. The Council should never let that position stand, and immediate steps should be taken to remedy matters. The sooner the levels were altered the better. Cr. Ambury remarked that the position was a very important one. A oommitte should be delegated to enquire into Iho whole matter . Or. Clarke differed, holding _ that the two engineers should investigate the matter thoroughly and report. Ultimately, after much discussion. H was decided to ask the Consult-in? Engineer fMr. Climiel to visit the works and report.