PROVINCIAL WATER SUPPLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 18, 22 January 1926, Page 8

PROVINCIAL WATER SUPPLY.

PROPOSAL TO FORM BOARD. DRAFT BILL APPROVED.

The committee Teprissenting various local bodies, that has been working for the establishment of a provincial water board, met yesterday and affirmed Hid draft bill providing for the establishment of the board.

Mr. E. H. Potter, who presided, said the bill provided for the formation of a board, on the same lines as the Electric Power Board. The idea was that the •water board -should supply to local authorities, who, in turn, will distribute it to the consumer. It is left open to the board to get water from any source. As the population in the outer areas i 3 growing, and spreading in all directions, an adequate supply of good water was an imperative necessity. The board will be in a position to supply districts now without water, and other places where the supply will be available for but a limited period as their catchment area is being steadily built upon. The board will have power to erect reservoirs and to purchase existing reservoirs and plant where required. It will also have power to carry a pipe line over the harbour to supply Takapuna and any other districts requiring -water, including the many bay 3in the Waitemata County, which carry a large summer population.

The committee will recommend for the consideration of the board, the scheme formulated by the engineer, for the supply from Taupo, and also the emergency supply from the Waikato River, for districts in immediate need. It will also recommend the appointment of a consulting engineer of high reputation to report on the proposed scheme. The policy of the board will be to pay all charges and expenses in connection with the scheme out of the revenue from the sale of water, so that no rate need be collected.

The scheme, it was explained by Mr. Potter, provided for many areas that cannot otherwise obtain water without entering upon capital expenditure of varying amounts to supply their needs. It provided a better quality of water for all districts that cared to avail themselves of it. It made it possible to give an emergency supply to those who require it, without calling on them to undertake large capital expenditure on schemes that can have but a limited life, and it would enable them to obtain wateF at a smaller cost than they would pay for a separate scheme. Moreover, it removed the constant anxiety about water, which increases with the growth of population.

The committee unanimously approved of the scheme in the draft bill, which it is hoped to put before Parliament next session.