TIMARU WATER SUPPLY

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24503, 28 February 1945, Page 6

TIMARU WATER SUPPLY

SERIOtJgI POSITION EMPHASISE!)

"people do not realise how dangerOuSIV low the water supply of Timaru has fallen since the pipe-lines were, broken by the flood,” said thfe' Mayor Of Timaru (Mr A. E, S. Hahan) in a statement to “The Press", last evening. "The ugly fact is that the reservoir Is half empty, Which means that in spite of plea# to conserve water the town has used eight feet, in five days," he added. ■ . Metro! the Works Department, who Were doing everything possible to ensure a water supply for Timaru, hoped to have the pumps working bv to-day, which will mean 'that 1,000,000 gallons of water a day will go into the reservoir, continued Mr Hanan. The recent daily consumption had been about one and three-quarter million gallons a day. This worked out at a daily average consumption of 160 gallons a person, When the pump was in operation it Was hoped that it Would be possible to allow a daily average consumption of 50 gallons a person if Citizens played the game alid did not waste water.

"If we find too much water Is being used we will have ;to decrease the oressure and restrict water in certain areas each day,’’ said Mr Hanan. In that ease restrictions would have to be imposed for some time, perhaps months, people did not seem to realise how seripus the breaks Were, he said. In parts of the line'everything had been washed away. Piping and fluming could not be replaced for some considerable time, and to make matters worse, the course would have to be changed. “This is no exaggeration of the position; in fact, I cannot stress too forcefully what a very serious plight we are in,” said Mr Hahan.