NORTH SHORE WATER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 283, 30 November 1933, Page 6

NORTH SHORE WATER.

Onr-o again in his usual optimistic manner liis "Worship the Mayor of Devonport assures j us that everything is satisfactory in connection with local water supply. He is of the opinion that in the event of Northcote and Birkenhead Councils, purchasing water from the City Council, Takapuna should continue to purchase water from the Devonport Borough Council. He would have us believe that a modern system of filtration has been installed, and that putrid water will soon be a thing of the past. As a matter of 1 fact, no attempt has been made to install a modern filtration system, although the water of the lake is being treated with copper .sulphate — a very poisonous salt that has to be handled with extreme care. The organisms called protozoa which cause a nuisance will still be carried throughout the reticulation system to putrefy at dead ends. So far as Takapuna is concerned, the lake is a very unsatisfactory and expensive water supply. In addition to the 1/G per thousand gallons charge, there is an annual loss of £1500 in rates, owing to restrictions imposed by the Water Board. This is equivalent to another Gd per thousand gallons. As compared with the total quantity of water purchased from Devonport, 25 per cent is wasted. Most of this waste occurs when dead-end mains reeking with filthy water have to be flushed over and over again. Indirectly, Takapuna has to share the cost of clearing tho lake of weeds and the- general expenses in connection with the administration of the Water Board. At a glance it will be seen that Takapuna pays at present well over 2/ per thousand gallons for water. Any intelligent person of an engineering turn of mind knows that the cxistinng restrictions on tho lake watershed could be removed provided water was purchased from the city, and an adequate reservoir constructed at Birkenhead. Having got the unwary Takapuna Borough Council where they want it, members of the Devonport Council will next arrange for the purchase of the Wairau watershed, and then the chances of removing tiia restrictions and of Takapuna regaining its lost rates will bo gone for ever. The remedy lies in Takapuna ratepayers demanding a poll. JOHN GUIXIVKN,' Mayor of Takapuna.