Old Sump Source Of Worms In Water Supply

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30534, 1 September 1964, Page 18

Old Sump Source Of Worms In Water Supply

An old brick sump at the Lyttelton Borough Council’s pumping station at Heathcote was the source of worms in the water supply, according to a report to the council last evening from its consulting engineers, H. G. Royds and Sutherland.

The engineers had been asked to prepare working drawings for a new reinforced concrete suction tank of 200,000-gallon capacity. They estimated the total cost would be £12,800. The whole matter has now been placed in the hands of the council’s water committee. Leaked Badly The report said the old brick settling tanks leaked badly through cracks and that repairs had not been successful. “In line with good waterworks practice they also need roofing to prevent contamination and weed growth. “At present, water flows from the settling tanks to the old sump which contains the' suction pipes of the main pumps. From time to time, there have been complaints of worms in the water and the source of these has been found to be the old brick sump.

“The new suction tank will do away with this source of contamination. “With a closed-suction tank in place of the open settling

tanks, maintenance cleaning will be minimised. It would also be in a good position near the rising main for fluoridation or other water treatment, using the tank for holding capacity and controlling the chemical injection from the flow in the rising main.”

Working drawings had also been prepared for the roofing and lining of the two settling tanks at a total estimated cost of £7500. However, if the council decided to go ahead with the construction of the new suction tank, this expenditure would be avoided, the report said. “Ridiculous" Moving that the whole matter be referred to the water committee, Cr. N. D. Parratt said the position at present was ridiculous. The area around.the tanks had changed during the last few years from a swamp to an absolute quagmire, he said.

The Deputy-Mayor (Cr. R. H. Duff) said he was concerned that working plans had been drawn up before the council had made a definite decision to go ahead with the scheme. This could involve unnecessary cost, he said.

Cr. Wilson Dodds said he considered it a bad business for the council to pump water into wells; and then to lose it through cracks.