Drastic water shortage

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33454, 8 February 1974, Page 1

Drastic water shortage

(New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, February 7. Invercargill is slowly being crippled by the water shortage in the town. James Hargest High School, Waverley Park, Invercargill North and St George primary schools have been forced to close.

The general manager of the Southland Education Board said: “No more schools will be closed until the last trickle of water has seeped through.” He expects there to be enough water to enable those schools closed to open again tomorrow. Hospitals, hotels and resaurants have been working to minimum water use. However, Calvary Hospital is without water and today, mothers were desperate. Patients were not allowed to use baths or showers. I The hospital has been hit a double blow. Because of the ! public holiday yesterday no i laundry could be cleaned and ias a result today they had (twice as much to clean with (very little water.

* Park Street Hospital has J also been affected, and all * patients are being handI washed in an attempt to save water. > At Southland’s main hospi- ; tai, Kew, the laundry has i been closed. Ocean Beach freezing - works has had to close > through lack of water. The City Engineer (Mr K. 3)Ballinger) said today that full .(flow had been restored from I the main outlet but there was 1' little storage. ■ "The town pressure is 201 b tjand in past emergencies the j(pressure has only been drop--31 ped to 351 b. Normal presi I sure is 551 b,” he said. 1) Central city areas are getII ting some water but outer ‘suburbs are without it.