CITY WATER SUPPLY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13545, 5 October 1909, Page 8

CITY WATER SUPPLY.

GENERAL PROGRESS OF THE WORK.

At the meeting of the last night the City Waterworks Engineer reported as follows:— fl) Cast-iron Pipe Contract.-I have two gangs working laying cart-iron pipes, one in Richmond and one m St. Albans, but the work cannot yet be pushed on as I should wish, in consequence of a number of special castings, etc , *hich are needed not yet being to hand. The contractor has supplied' nearly all the straight pipes, valves md fire plugs, but a number of special castings, etc., are still needed. <2) Steel PiTje-.-Th.re, at present, remain 6 miles 70 chains to bo laid, end the pipes are all on the ground. But I am not satisfied with thojoints which have been provided. I have had very considerable trouble m making the joints tight, a second screwmgup being necessary in many cases. Ihe Spiral Pipe Company has always mStod that the fault lies with the jointing, but I am now satisfied that the difficulty has been chiefly due to the fact that the sliding rings which have been supplied are too loose. In all cases where the rings have tiglitiy fitted the p _*» the joint has been tight from the first putting together, notably in tho 18in pipe, where there has been no leak. The fact is, that unless the sliding rings fit the barrel of the pipes when the pressure comes upon the joints in the course of time, the rubber is gradually squeezed back along the barrel of the pipe and a leak results, and the joints require a second screwing-up-to make them tight. In my opinion, to make a satisfactory joint at the first laying the rings must be tight fitting. I have, therefore, declined to accept the joint as now delivered, and have offered the Spiral Pipe Company the following alternatives: —(a) That it supplies joints to my satisfaction; (b) that I provide myself with joints at the company's cost; (c) that the company undertake the jointing of the remainder of the pipes, and guarantees the wosk for three months. The company has agreed to the first, and. subsequently, to the third proposals, and undertakes to do all the jointing at 6s per chain, and guarantee the jointing. I would advise the Council to accept this offer, which is a reasonable one, but tho guarantee must be for three months, not one month. The cost will be about £168. (3). Central Ward Reticulation. — Tho state of the central ward reticulation is as follows:—Pipes filled and tested—l Bin completed, loin completed, 12in completed; Bin, 336 chains completed; 6in, 165.6 chains completed ; 4in, 415.5 chains completed; 3in, 276.5 chains completed. Total of ipipes now filled, tested, and ready for connections, 20 miles, 61 chains. The whole of the central ward, excluding Richmond, will be completed by Thursday, the 7th inst. (4) Reservoir. —The fencing of the reservoir is now completed. (5) Linwood Reticulation.—The following mains have been laid: —lOin, 82 chains; Bin, 50 chains; 6in, 15 chains. (6) St. Albans Reticulation.—The following pipes have been laid: —l2in, 99 chains; lOin, 42 chains; Bin, 121 chains; 6in, 356 chains; 3in, 15 chains. (7) Richmond Reticulation.—The following pipes have been laid in Richmond :—4in, 71 chains j 3in, 162 chains. (8) Connections.—There have been 133 a,pplications and 34 connections mad© to 2nd October. The second gang started on the 2nd! October. Cr. Cooper moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Cr. Gapes and agreed to.