WATER SHORTAGE AT TIMARU

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22389, 30 April 1938, Page 8

WATER SHORTAGE AT TIMARU

SUPPLY IN RESERVOIR DECREASING

SITUATION CAUSED BY HEAVY RAINFALL

Paradoxical though it seems, in one of the wettest periods the district has experienced for many years, Timaru is facing a serious position in that its water supply gives every indication of running short in the very near future unless the weather improves soon enough to allow clear water to flow into the reservoir.

At a meeting of the Timaru Borougly Council on Tuesday night, Cr. W. H. Hall, chairman of the Works Committee, said that the reservoir level had dropped by about eight feet. To-day, however, the supply of clear water had dropped by more thsfti twice that amount. There is at present only four days' supply in two reservoirs, and two days' supply of clear water. In consequence of the position the Mayor (Mr P. B. Foote) has issued an appeal to citizens to do all in their power to conserve the supply. All large users of water have been communicated with and requested to co-oper-ate with the council in dealing with the shortage. The use of hoses for any purpose is absolutely prohibited, and no car washing is allowed, severe penalties being threatened in cases of proved wastage. Citizens are asked not to us% an undue quantity of water, such as. for instance, would be required for baths.

"According to the normal practice in ordinary times, only clean water is run into" the reservoirs," said the Mayor, "but because of recent heavy and sustained rains the Pareora river has become completely discoloured, and so no water has been taken into the reservoirs at all. The council must now rely on the water in the reservoir until the river clears, or use discoloured water. "As a matter of fact, a mistake was made in allowing the supply to get as low as it has," said Cr. Hall last night, "but we are now taking as much water into the reservoir as we can. Discoloured water is being run into a small reservoir at a greater rate than clear water is being taken out. If the available supply of clear water gives out the citizens will have to use discoloured water, but we are hoping that such will not be necessary. Cr. Hall added that because of heavy rain along the route of the water-race which feeds the reservoirs, the whole countryside was soaked, in consequence of which slips were constantly occurring, necessitating a gang of men being on duty to meet any emergency which might arise.