WAIKATO WATER SUPPLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 139, 13 June 1936, Page 17

WAIKATO WATER SUPPLY.

The necessity for an adequate and satisfactory water supply is again brought before the notice of the general public by the serious position the people of Manurewa are placed in. This is further evidence that a big scheme designed to adequately supply the requirements of the Waikato and Auckland districts with pure water should be undertaken without further delay. When the Water Bill was submitted to tho last Parliament definite facts and figures were certified to by the promoters. It was pointed out that the cost of the first instalment of the pipe lino and reservoir would allow water to be sold on a consumption of 10 million gallons per day at Gd per thousand gallons, and for 15 million gallons per day at 4d per thousand gallons, which would meet the requirements of tlie farming and industrial areas. One important factor which has a bearing on a water scheme is the cost of a dam or dams, and in the case of the Waikato supply the Arapuni Lake and dam provides the foundation of this great scheme. The first instalment will cost £002,000, and will fully provide water at the low prices mentioned. After allowing for the completed cost of the scheme to Arapuni and provision for a sinking fund for extinction of the eciet of dams in the Waitakeres, there will still be no necessity to increase the cost of water to the consumers. Arapuni Lake is above sea level, and there is a 10-million gallon flow every three minutes and a half over the dam. Here is cheap water in abundance only waiting for the definite action of the local bodies. The opportunity should not be allowed to pass for the local bodies to make a determined effort to carry out | the definite recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee when reporting on the Water Bill. E. H. POTTER. June 11, 1936.