WATER CONSERVATION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 93, 12 February 1947, Page 5

WATER CONSERVATION

USE OF HOSES DISCUSSED EXISTING RESTRICTIONS STAND The question of varying the period for the use of hoses within the Borough from the morning to the evening was discussed at the meeting of the Whakatane Borough Council when after hearing the remarks of the Electrical Engineer regarding the drastic shortage and the inadequacy of the pumping plant, it was decided that there should be no change.

The matter was mentioned by Cr Canning who pointed "out that the two hours in the morning from 6 to 8 a.m. when the use of hoses was permissable -was most inconvenient to most residents and did little gQod as the sun immediately dried the water up. It was suggested therefore that the period be changed to the evening and that it be of one hour's duration only. Cr Shapley suggested that a point might be stretched and an hour given in the morning and the evening.

The Mayor: If people would only use their hoses intelligently there would be no need to impose restrictions at all.

The engineer observed that he realised it was for the council to decide but at the same time he felt he should make the position clear. The reservoir after serving the demands of the day had to pick up again at night, but even then it was limited on account of the electricity restrictions which now observed the shut-down from. 1 till 3 a.m. Storage was practically nil and as an illustration he said that recently it took six hours solid pumping to gain 3ft. in the reservoir. The water was practically running right through. The whole question which arose was the fire danger. In the event of a big blaze at night the depleted water supply would be quite inadequate. He personally would not like to take that risk much as he would like to oblige the ratepayers. The council decided in view of the position to restrict the use of hoses to the morning period only as at present in force.