A WATER FAMINE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 54, 5 March 1900, Page 4

A WATER FAMINE.

Citizens will learn with some dismay that we are on the verge of a water famine, and that only the

greatest .carefulness exercised by householders and manufacturers will prevent the supply from running out before the end of the present week. The following letter, addressed by the Waterworks Engineer to His Worship the Mayor, lucidly states the actual position of affairs: —

Sir. —The water supply at present consumption is very serious. During the past week the consumption has averaged 1,864,000, against our ordinary summer daily consumption of 2,200,000 g-allons. representing a saving of 330,000 gallons per day; but as the greatest quantity we got from the Springs daily during last week was 1,000,000 gallons, you will see we used from storage in reservoirs 204,000 per day. The reservoirs have now got so low that something must be done at once to further reduce consumption. The quantity of available water this morning in reservoirs is—Ponsonby, _\"o. 1, 8 feet, 925,000 gallons; Khyber, 5 feet, 372.000; Mount Eden, 0 feet, 222,000; or a total of 1.519,000 g-allous; so at present consumption they will be empty on Friday. Will it be possible to shut off the water from the city and suburbs during the night? I am afraid, even by so doing, we may lose a quantity of water from fireplugs when turning' on again; but I think it is worth trying- as the quickest means of effecting a saving. In case of fire it would be awkward with (he wnter off. but when it is only a question of a few days before the reservoirs are empty we must-try something.— Your obedient servant, J. CARLAW, Waterworks Engineer.

There has so often been a cry of "Wolf!! Wolf!" that many citizens may be disposed 10 think there is no urgent need for putting themselves about at the present time. In this,- howevei', they are seriously mistaken. The crisis is* really a grave one. We cannot urge too strongly upon consumers the absolute necessity for avoiding waste in any form. If care is exercised the Springs will-con-tinue to yield a flow sufficient for absolute needs, but there is no margin for waste, and the present consumption, as Mr Carlaw points out, must be reduced by 264,000 gallons per day at least. Citizens will naturally feel incensed that a city of the size and importance of Auckland should have been placed in so perilous a. position through the lassitude of the Council, and even that, body is now fully aroused to a sense of its responsibility, and is resolved that no matter what the cost an.adequate supply must be found before next summer. But even if a large permanent scheme were resolved tipon to-day, it would take live years to construct the necessary works. The I\Tihotapu scheme, Which is the nearest of the larger sources of supply, involves 8,000 feet of driving through rock. A considerable supply can,: however, be obtained quickly and economically from Canty's and Henderson's creeks, and Mr Mestnyer, who recently examined the various sources of supply, will, we understand, report in favour of getting a temporary supply from the sources mentioned, which could be made available, before next summer.

Meanwhile, the Water Supply Committee of the Council has reluctantly decided that effect must be given at once to Mr. Carlaw's recommendation for the shutting off of the reservoirs at night. What this will save is not exactly known, but a few nights' trial will test-the matter. It will cause inconvenience to manufacturers-.who use, steam engines at- night-,- but this cannot be avoided, and

they must make arrangements accordingly for storing the required quantity "in tanks during the daytime for use at night. If this measure prove insufficient the supplies to baths will have to be cutoff, and citizens are now urged to be as sparing in this department as possible—to use the shower and sponge instead of plunge baths, and to forego all baths that are not necessary to health and cleanliness. Annoying as it may be to be compelled to forego the refreshing plunge in this sweltering weather, no great hardship can accrue, as the salt water baths are still available to those who cannot do without their matutinal dip.