MASTERTON'S WATER SUPPLY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3210, 9 June 1909, Page 5

MASTERTON'S WATER SUPPLY.

A VISIT OP INSPECTION

IMPROVEMENTS RECENTLY EFFECTED.

On a recent bright and sunny afternoon—a day more like spring than mid-winter—a representative of the Wairarapa Age accompanied the Borough Engineer (Mr W. T. Mansfield) that gentleman having courteously extended him an invitation to do so, to the source of Masterton's water' supply. A stop was first made at the reservoir, and the door of the ' structure over the accumulated water , having been opened, the Engineer and pressman entered within. The beautiful sheet of clear, cold water that presents itself to the eye is at once a striking and a picturesque > sight. From this reservoir, which 1 usually contains about 240,00 gallons, there are carrying off Masterton's water supply at the"rate of about 750,000 gallons every twenty-four hours, the amount varying according to the season of the year. When it should be deemed advisable to do so, it is possible, however, to conduct the water through pipes leading to the town without taking it through the reservoir at all. In the roof of the building over thp reservoir a very inexpensive and satisfactory improvement has been effected in the way of making apertures, or windows, covered with wire netting. These "windows" serve a double purpose as they not only allow the water to remain cooler in summer that it otherwise would, but they let in the light and sunshine which exercise a purifying effect on the water. It should have been mentioned, by way of a preliminary remark, that the object of the visit was to inspect improvements to the system that have been carried out recently under the direction of Mr Mansfield. The total cost of the improvements has not exceeded £350, —this sum covering all that has been done from the reservoir to the river —and even the uninitiated can appreciate the fact that valuable and very necessary work has been accomplished. A large number of "sumps" or inspection chambers, have been put in, and by means of these it is now possible to clean out the pipes leading from the intake to the reservoir. It may surprise some people to learn that water dupply pipes have to be cleaned out occasionally, but an inspection of the weeds that have recently been removed out of Masterton's water supply pipe would have an enlightening effect. Some of the weeds in question are very large—one monster turning the scale at 28 pounds. Through the slightest

crevice where there is a defect in the joint of a pipe, a fibrous root can find its way, and once inside it grows rapidly and to a size scarcely credible unless seen for oneself. Until Mr Mansfield took the matter in hand, the position was that there was no I way of inspecting the whole stretch [of pipe—some 2 miles in length—leading 1 from the upper intake to the reservoir. In this pipe the weeds were flourishing apace, and they tended not only to pollute the water supply but to decrease the volume as well. In this pipe line there are still leaks in places, which will, of course, be duly attended to. Earthenware pipes are not the best that can be laid down for such a purpose, but they are, of course, must less expensive than iron pipßs. Iron pipes, Mr Mansfield explained, if coated internally with Dr. Angus Smith's solution would have given the maximum amount of delivery to the reservoir, while the intrusion of roots would have been completely prevented. As it is, however, the inspection chambers, which are 3ft 6in by 2ft 6in, built of concrete, and at a varying depth, are a great improvement. The method of putting them in was to build the chamber all round the pipe, and when it was completed to break the pipe, thus allowing access to the interior. In every "sump," or chamber, there is a drop of 6in, the result being that the mineral matter is completely arrested in the inspection chambers. In order to prevent any possibility of contamination at the top of each "sump" is an iron frame, secured by a padlock, the precaution taken being certainly of an advisable character. No fewer than 18 "sumps" have been put in, and through means of them the whole length of the pipe has been thoroughly cleaned. It is, of course, the first time since the water supply has been established that the pipe has been cleaned, indeed, it was impossible to have dont so previously. At the upper intake rrore valuable work has been effected. The "creek"—atone time a subject of frequent discussion, and quite a theme for rhetoric, when a dead horse was discovered therein —no longer contributes directly towards Masterton's water supply. "The swampy water that positively stank"—we quote from past records of Council meetings, so need not apologise for the language—no longer mingles itself with the pure and limpid waters of the b3autiful Waingawa. Under the creek the pipe has been carried and coaects with an open earth channel, somewhere about a feet deep, which has been extended to near the edge of the Waingawa, at a most suitable point, that is to say, where there is fine stream of water. In passing it may be remarked that Dr. Makgill of the Public Health Department, who has recently had an analysis of the water made, describes it as being "in a very pure state." But to revert once more to the recent improvements effected, at the point where the open earth channel, already mentioned, teiminates close to the bank of the river a box fluming of suitable dimensions has been led through the edge of the bank into and under the bed, at a depth of some 5 feet, and for some 20 feet in distance. Over the fluming the waters flow continuously and naturally. After placing the box it was filled with stones of varying sizes, «md thus it will be seen that as the water flows along the river any volume desired can be drawn off. The quantity can be increased or diminished by the sluice gate at the head of the earth channel, the arrangement, practically, ensuring that the water is naturally filtered. That there will never be any necessity to make a change in the place of intake is at once apparent. Wherever the river may go, that is. however, much it is likely to change its course, a continuation of the box fluming would b3 all that would

ibe necessary. However dry the summer may be the people of Masterton may never fear a water famine. It may, however, be remarked that the consumption per head of water in Manterton is very indeed in comparison with many other towns, still the residents are to be congratulated on the, happy position irT which they are in. The public of Masterton may rest assured that for quantity (when the size of the population is considered) for purity and for fire prevention purposes, their water supply is second to none in the Dominion. In regard to pressure for fire prevention it is interesting to note that the highest pressure of which the supply is capable at the foot of Renall Street is 94 lbs to the square inch. On a recent occasion when there was a blaze in Queen Street a pressure of SOlbs was obtained within a few minutes, and maintained at GOlbs during the progress of the fire, five jets discharging direct from the mains.