The New Reservoir.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3987, 8 October 1881, Page 2

The New Reservoir.

The following 48vMr M^v M>i^erys report, read at the last meeting of the Borough Council:—Grey street,' Paruwai, 30th September, 1881.—To His; Worship the Major, -ThaUies. T r-Sir t -T T In accordance with verbal instructions, received from F. C. Dean, Esq., I havemade a survey of the proposed site for a storage reservoir r in the Waikiki Valley, land also hare examined the locality generally, with the viewl of; finding the most suitable place { for impouuding a large quantity of water to augment the present domestic supply during the dry season. Now I have the honor to report that I do not consider the Waikiki Valley a very favorable locality for storing water ,iia, owing to its contracted width and the great inclination of the bed of the stream, which I find is,; on an average, 1 in 13, wjiere it is. prbX posed to construct the reservoir; 1; "From the levels taken, I find that the construction of a dam, thirty feet high, at an eatimated cost of £1100—which amount- will cover ail the cost of the reservoir—less than- 4,000,000 gallons^ would be? im.^<i pounded. As this quantity of water would be totally inadequate for the requirements of the Borough during the dry season, I beg to reoommend thai the idea of constructing a reservoir at the proposed site be abandoned, as the result to be obtained would not, in my opinion, warrant such an expenditure. Not' having been able so far to find clay suitable for puddle in the vicinity of the proposed reservoir in sufficient quantity,, I fear it may have to be brought from a. distance. Should this occur, my estimate of cost will be under the mark, as the ;, conveyance of the quantity required,'7so cubic yards, to such an inaccessible locality will be rather expensive. 'No., boring a have been made to ascertain to ' what depth the puddle trench would have to be taken, the quantity above, stated must be taken as approximate only. I have'also made a trial,survej^for,^) reservoir partly on lots 44, 45, andiGqf^ the Church Mission Land, and partly oar 1 the road in the hollow immediately below the County race, through which t&e waste water from the present reservoir passes. One could be constructed at this point capable of holding about 2£ million . gallons of water at a cost (including necessary 9-inch piping to connect with the present pipe which suppliis the ' Borough) of £930. The advantages "of '■ this site are, besides its being in a con. venient position, that the waste water from the present reservoir can be easily led into it, and the quantity of water supplemented when neoemry'froni tKe County race. If it should be thought of" advantage, the capacity of the present reservwr can be doubled, by excavatin* further into the high ground, at a cost of about £000. The most likely place for a storage reservoir in the Waikiki Valley Ju- ii * k^W^yof water is, I think, directly below the present reserroi^' as the Valley appears to widen oit to' some extent, and the general slope of'tifr! ground appears easier, but as I ha?e not made an instrumental survey I cttniibtspeak quite positively on the matter* M* idea of a storage reservoir to suit the ws quirements of the Borough is that it shon d be capable of holding one month. supply. Now as I believe the consumption of water in the Borough amounts to about , two million gallons per day, it follows tbat >» the reservoir should be able to contain 60,000,000, thatis, should the entire supply be taken from the Waikiki stream. To impound such a large quantity of water will cost a considerable sum of moqey, apd.

I am inclined to think that the present supply might be more cheaply supplemented from the County race, provided that there be sufficient water runing in th* 1 race during the dry season to meet all requirements. I have not completed any plans, as I thought it would bo useless ray doing so, and increasing expenses unnecessarily. Should you, however, desire, I shall be most happy to furnish them at any time, as well as estimates in detail.—I have, &c, D. M. Beebe. C.E..