BOROUGH WATER SUPPLY

Wairarapa Age, 3 February 1927, Page 4

BOROUGH WATER SUPPLY

ECONOMY ESSENTIAL DRY SPELL CAUSES SHORTAGE. PRESSURE REDUCED. Since the introduction of the improved water reticulation in tho Masterton Borough, there has existed a general impression that the present supply is unlimited and may bo drawn on to any extent and for any purpose with impunity. That this idea is fallacious has been shown dating the past week’s dry spell. For the past eight or nine days, the pressure during the day has barely maintained forty pounds to the square inch, which is most inadequate in tho event of fire, while on Monday the draw-off reached the maximum bf three million gallons, causing the main reservoir to drop three feet. It took five hours to recover this loss of water.

The intake at the Waingawa River had to be opened up to form a pond in which to catch water, while the race leading away from the intake had to be built up in order to maintain the supply.

Tho new reticulation had the beneficial effect that everyone had an ample supply. Thi£ was accounted, no doubt, for the extra draw-off. Had the dry spell continued, it is difficult to conjecture just how the river would have behaved, and the borough supply for domestic purposes undoubtedly would have been jeopardised. The onus is therefore upon householders to conserve, wherever possible, the present supply so that in the event of a continuation of the dry weather there may be ample for all, and also in order that a high pressure may be maintained to preserve property against fire.