SEWERAGE SYSTEM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLI, Issue 9545, 25 June 1921, Page 5

SEWERAGE SYSTEM.

GOOD PROGRESS MADE. .OPERATING IN THREE MONTHS. PUMPING DIFFICULTY OVERCOME. .Notwithstanding the bad weather experienced during the past fortnight, considerable progress has been made with the underground sewerage scheme. His Worship the Mayor (Mr E. Galbraith) yesterday accompanied the drainage engineer on a visit of inspection, and expressed himself very well satisfied with the amount of work that had been done.'- In conversation with a "Guardian" reporter to-day he .supplied some interesting particulars* The first contract for the laying of pipe .aewers and construction of manholes was let to Messrs G. T. Russell and Co. This contract comprised the sewering of all streets on the east side of the town from Dobson Street to Cameron Street between William Street and Eaat Street, and Cameron Street to Cox Street between the East Belt and Eaat Street. It represented the laying of 13,992 ft of 6in, 2772 ft of 9in, and 1485 ft of 12in sewers, together with 42 manholes and eight lampholes. Every portion of these sewers has been subjected to a water test to ensure their soundness. The last test was made yesterday, and Messrs Russell and Co. have now completed the laying of all sewers m their contract. The balance of the sewers on the east side of the railway to the North Belt will be laid by Messrs Crum Bros. Commencing at the lower end of Wil-. liam Street with the main intercepting sewer, 18in m diameter, they have completed to midway between Moore and Tancred streets. The work of laying this sewer is the heaviest portion of the laying of the sewers, and Crum Bros, are to be congratulated upon the vary excellent showing they are makj ing. In addition, they have completed the sewers m South and Kermode streets, while the excavators are well ahead of the pipe-laying. The most difficult portion of the system to construct is. the liquefying tanks being built near the 'river. Here an immense volume of water has had to be dealt with, amounting to 95,000 gallons per day. The pumps have to be kept working continuously m order to keep the foundations dry, and great ingenuity has been displayed by the ! contractor, Mr James Thompson, m carrying 1^ out this extremely difficult work. It is well worth a visit of inspection. To-day no water is to be seen except m the sump, and about half the floor and a foot m height of the external walls have been concreted. Given fine weather, the end of next week will see the bottom of the tanks completed. ' The engineer- stated he was greatly indebted to the Electrical Supply Company for the ver^' efficient ! and reliable supply of energy fqf pump- . '.wz purposes, and for the assistance he had received by Mr B. F. Barlow, the comany's engineer. One of the interesting features of the work is the method adopted to make the tanks watertight. • Hitherto the result has generally been obtained by plastering, but. on account of the necessity of keeping out the subsoil water, as well as keeping m the sewerage, the engineer has made the whole, mass watertight by the use of, a waterproof . paste manuf actured, by the Truscon Laboratories, who are represented m New Zealand by Messrs John , Chambers and Son, Ltd. TKe special fittings for operating the. tanks are being manufactured by Adorns, Hydraulic Company, England, while the pipes and irregulars were obtained m Dunedin. ■' A commencement has already been made to connect uo some of the houses, and it is anticipated that within three months the sewerage system' can be utilised.