BIG INCREASE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 136, 11 June 1938, Page 12

BIG INCREASE.

WATER CONSUMPTION.

3,452,000,000 GALLONS.

PROSPECTS FOR FUTURE.

On its way to kitchen kettles, bathe, gardens, fire hose* and countless other destinations, 3,452,000,000 gallons of water surged during the past year through Auckland's mains and pipelines.

Consumption showed the exceptionally large increase of 7.27 per cent over the previous year, for during the past ten years the average rate of increase in consumption in each successive year has been only one half of one per cent.

The greatest proportionate increase has taken place in the water supplied for trade and manufacturing purpose*. This, according to the waterworks engineer, Mr. A. D. Mead, doubtless reflects the welcome improvement in general prosperity.

If the water that flowed out of the eity's dams and reservoirs had been shared equally among the consumers, each would have taken nearly 60 gallons a day. The total average-daily consumption was almost nine and a half million gallons.

Daily demand varies with the seasons. From over 8,000,000 gallons, daily in April of last year it had dropped by almost a Million by September but then rose to the record figure of 11,484,000 gallons in March of this year. On January 19 lest 13,127,000 gallons were used —* record daily total. . ...,.-..

As far as total rainfall figures go, the year was somewhat wetter than normal, but the series of dry spring months created conditions which led to the exceptionally Mnry summer demand. Gardens thirsted for inter. Then ewe * wei February. A* Intense local rainstorm over the Waita-' kere and Swanson areas started an old slip in motion, and the Waitakere pipeline was dislocated. Luckily, however, the other lines held and there was no dislocation of supplies, but in his annual review Mr. Mead warns that the rather abnormal series of storms with which Nerw Zealand has been visited lately makes the consideration of additional safeguardii.g measures somewhat important. - ' .

The present resources of the city are estimated to be capable, of supplying a demand up to 30 per cent above the present consumption; and so, bearing in mind the time, required to carry out a major construction work, it win be

nwmi-y to wttdi the position carefully in the immediate future/* i* another point made by Mr. Mead. "If the increase in consumption continues *t the same rate it -will be essential to complete plans fot augmentation to enable the work to be pot in hand as soon as necessary."