DISPOSAL OF SEWERAGE

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1926, Page 10

DISPOSAL OF SEWERAGE

DISCHARGE INTO THE SEA. APPLICATION TO HARBOUR BOARD. Formal permission to drain the sewags of the town of New Plymouth into the aea at the foot of Eliot Street was sought from the Harbour Board yesterday by the Borough Council. The proposal will be considered by the board’s resident engineer. The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) and the engineer (Mr. C. C. Clarke) waited on the board and the former explained that a comprehensive scheme was contemplated. The engineer proposed the adoption of the gravitational method with an outlet at Eliot Street. Officers of the Health Department had approved of this as a wise move. Under the Act it was necessary for tlie board formally to consent before sewage matter could be deposited in the sea. The council had made tests under every conceivable condition for weather and sea. Cases of condemned fruit bad been placed in the sea at Eliot Street and, with the exception of two, all had entirely disappeared. These two had been thrown up on the beach, but Mr. Clarke proposed to get over this difficulty by removing all solids, as was done in AucklandRightly or wrongly the council, during the past three years, had been discharging the sewage into the sea at the mouth of the Huatoki Stream, and it had been found that the material was so pulverised in the drains that the sea could easily dispose of it. There- was no smell, or objectionable deposit, amj only one complaint had been received. Now it was proposed to carry the sewage right out, so that there would be no chance of any deposit on the beach except by waves. In reply to Mr. E. Maxwell, Mr. Wilson said the sewage would be delivered under the water at all times. All the drainage would go out at the mouth of the Huatoki Stream. There would, of course, be more sewage than at present, as it was proposed to increase the area. The water supply proposal would give the increased resources needed for tlie drainage and New Plymouth would then be placed on a. very favourable footing compared with other places. Mr. Clark stated that Caere would be a constant discharge though the tunnels could be used for storage, if necessary. The board recognised this was a matter for the public good, and the benefit of the town, said Mr. C. E. Bellringer, M.P., chairman of the board. The Mayor mentioned that the whole of Wellington’s sewage was discharged in a raw state into the sea, and the current flowed back past Lyall Bay, the popular bathing resort. Yet there were no complaints. At Dunedin it was the same. The deputation then withdrew.