Assurance sought on P.O. water

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33753, 28 January 1975, Page 12

Assurance sought on P.O. water

No satisfactory reply had been received from the Post Office as to the reasons why cooling towers were “not feasible at present” to avoid wasteful use of well water for air conditioning at its Hereford Street premises, the water committee of the North Canterbury Catchment Board was told.

Neely, for the Ministry. “The Post Office must accept its responsibilities under the act. “If a short-term discharge • right is given, the Post Office should produce evidence that it is working on alternatives. I wouldn’t like to delay them and teach them a lesson.” . A short-term right was acceptable, but the Post Office should be asked for its intentions, said the board’s Chief! Engineer (Mr J. A. Macdonold). The committee recom- ’ mended the board to grant a | right for five years, provided reasonable assurances are given that water conservation systems will be installed.

The committee was again discussing an application to draw water from two wells, using some for domestic purposes and the rest for air conditioning in telephone exchange equipment rooms, and discharging up to 363 cubic metres of water a day into the Avon. At a meeting between the, Post .Office, the Board and the Ministry of Works in December, the Post Office was asked to explain why cooling towers could not be used. “We have a letter from the Post Office, but it doesn’t say anything, and will be referred back with a request for an answer,” said Mr W. G.