WATER SUPPLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 207, 2 September 1938, Page 3

WATER SUPPLY.

FOR NORTH SHORE. CITY'S OFFER DISCUSSED. FURTHER DETAILS PROMISED. "Improvement of its water supply is the most important problem confronting tlie- Xorth Shore boroughs, and every parochial consideration should be subordinated to the uood of the district as a whole." Mr, E. Aldridpe at the conference held at the Takapuua Horoujili Council building last night to consider the offer made by the Auckland City Council to supply water to the Xorth Shore boroughs at 1/ a 1000 gallons. The conference was attended by representatives from the Takapuua, Dcvonport and Xorthcote Borough Councils. and was presided over by the Mayor of Takapuna, Mr. J. (Juiniven. Facts and figures in isupjiort of his contention that Lake Pupukc could not any longer be regarded as a reliable supj'ly. nor depended ujion for the needs of immediate expansion, were adduced by Mr. Aldridge. The total amount pumped from the lake to Dcvonport. Tokapuna and Xorthcote for the past year was 277.04.'!.0()0 gallons. This drawoff exceeded the annual rainfall on the whole watershed bv siMeral million gallons. and the level of the lake was entirely dependent on percolation through the surrounding volcanic strata. 1 he offer of supply front the city was a Milution to the obvious difficulties of the present situation in the Pupuke watershed, and was the only method that would permit a water supply to the rapidly expanding settlements of the East Coast bavs.

Rapid Increase. Mr. Cuiniven expressed hearty support nt the W aitakcre supply scheme, lie said that Takapuua was extending ilw drainage scheme, and would shortly add 4.is houses to it. He anticipated that the water consumption of his borough would increase by 20.000,000 gallons annually in l!)4."i. * Further, it was important that Takapuua ratepayers should be permitted to develop the lake basin for residential purposes. 1 his would remedy the present inequity of private owners being compelled to hold land for public purposes without any recompense. Mr. 11. F. AY. Meikle requested fuller infot mation from la kit puna borough in J the way of consumption costs, will be forthcoming from Mr. Guiniven. Speaking as chairman of the Xorth Shore Water Board, Mr. Meikle promised to supply for a further conference the fullest data of the proposed augmentation of Lake Pupuke from the \» a trait Stream. His main concern was the ultimate cost of water to the individual consumer, and he asked for the fullest investigation of the problem from, that anjjlo. Mr. H. Martin. Mayor of Xorthcote, i-aid that water from Waitakcre would increase the cost of water to the consumer in Xorthcote by 2d in the £ on tho rateable value. Oil Mr. Meikle's motion, the conference was adjourned to permit the compilation of further details of cost