THREE EMPTY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 108, 8 May 1943, Page 6

THREE EMPTY

DAMS IN RANGES

CITY WATER CRISIS

The state of the Auckland water supply this morning was extremely critical. It was reported that all the dams in the ranges, with the exception of the main Nihotupu dam, were empty, and that the latter then held only 9,000,000 gallons, which was less than two days' supply. Rain during the night had swelled the main streams a little, but not enough to counteract the draw-off. In the city and suburbs plans are being rushed to meet the position. It was emphasised this morning that only the greatest co-operation on the part of the public could avert a grave situation. The chairman of the Works Committee of the Auckland City Council, Mr A. S. Bailey, said that unless there was heavy rain over the weekend a most difficult position would arise in regard to sanitation, and an announcement in that connection would probably be made on Monday morning after discussion with the medical officer of health. Hoarding Condemned Mr. Bailey said that he was keenly disappointed at the consumption over the past two days, and pointed out that if people hoarded water it would aggravate the position. The reservoirs on town supply, which had a capacity of 23,001=,000 gallons, had been reduced to 15,000,000, and it was surprising to find that supply was reduced by 1,000,000 gallons yesterday. The Westfield Freezing Company had been using 936,000 gallons a day, he added. It was now receiving 112,000 gallons daily from Otahuhu, and had reduced the demand on the city supply to 323,000 gallons daily. If other industries could make a similar effort, it would, with cooperation on the part of the public, save the position.

Referring to sanitation, Mr. Bailey mentioned the large amount of water used for flushing, and said the amount used each time was threa gallons. He emphasised that this quantity could be reduced by bending down the ball float, or by putting a couple of loose bricks or other heavy material in the cistern. Auxiliary Supplies By use of a booster pump a largely increased amount of water is now being received from the Onehunga source, the daily average being 800,000 gallons. Steps were taken to-day to tap the Lower Nihotupu stream, and it is expected that by Monday 400,000 gallons daily will be available. The stream has been tapped at a point where the Huia pipeline crosses the valley, and a small length of piping, and a fire-trailer pump are being installed. The site is considerably higher up the valley than .the point where it is proposed to build a weir to collect the full flow of the lower valley, a work which will take some time to finish. Use of Stand-pipes Operations have been commenced by the City Council to erect standpipes in localities on high levels in the city and suburbs. ■ A similar action is being taken by the Mount Eden Borough Council. It is hoped to enlist the services of E.P.S. personnel to attend to the pipes, of which there will be one to every 100 houses. Mobile tanks will attend to houses in the upper parts of Mount Eden borough. The City Council is taking steps to see that less water is used in business premises, and the directions that non-essential industries must reduce consumption by two-thirds will be strictly enforced. Rainwater Gathered Some householder's gathered rainwater to-day by putting tubs or cans below downpipes. In one instance six gallons of rainwater was gathered in five minutes from two down pipes.