CATY WATER SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 70, 15 December 1928, Page 28

CATY WATER SUPPLY

DESIRE TO REASSURE THE PUBLIC recent fire in fruit MARKET ENGINEER TO REPORT A discussion took place at tlie City Council meeting in the early hours of yesterday morning concerning the recent destructive tire in tlie Fruit Auction Mart between Blair and Allen Streets, and the methods and facilities employed in extinguishing it. The view w’as taken by some members of the council that it would b’e a matter of policy to hold an inquiry. The Mayor confessed that he would like to see a test made with the same number of leads on the same mains that were used on the night of the dre. The City Engineer has been called upon for a detailed report as to pressures, and to supply any other expert information to clear up some points raised. The Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup) said he had been met with many suggestions lately that the city water supply was inefficient, and also from various sources that the Fire Board was endeavouring to cover up its inefficiency. It must be apparent to every member of the council, he said, that the water supply was not only ample at the present time but that the pressures were unusually good. The reason for the various suggestions was that those who witnessed the fire and saw the miserable display and pressure that came through some of the hose wanted to know the cause. Possibly the council’s representatives on the Fire Board knew tlie reason. If so they should report to the board, so that the public could be assured that in the event of further fires the pressure would be effective. The statement, continued the Mayor, was that the hose water did not reach 40 feet, but with a pressure of from 119 to 1351 b. the stream of water should reach three times that height. The owners and occupiers of high buildings wanted to be assured on that point, and it was the duty of the council to reassure them. If the pressure was not • sufficient 'the council was seriously at fault. If it was sufficient a demonstration should take place to show that it was. Practical Demonstration. “I should like,” continued the Mayor, “to see the same number of hoses used on the night of the Are connected with the same mains and a demonstration given of the height to which the water would reach, ; > the public may see that the water supply in Wellington is capable of dealing with any fire in any high building in the city." (Hear, hear.) Councillor G. Mitchell considered that the council should insist bn a thorough investigation into the whole of the fire. Councillor Aston thought the failure might only have been in one particular spot. He questioned the condition of the hose. Fire Board Satisfied’. Councillor H. D. Bennett, representing the council on the Fire Board, said a report was received from the superintendent of the Fire Brigade, and the Board decided that there was no need for further inquiry. Previous to that meeting the superintendent had obtained the consent of the chairman and the majority of members to seeking assistance by way of inquiry from the Fire Brigade superintendents of Auckland, Christchurch and Wanganui. The three superintendents came to 'Wellington and met the board for the purpose of making a report. They told the board frankly that they knew nothing of what they were to be asked to do. They said it was impossible to make such an inquiry after,a fire, not knowing anything of the circumstances which existed while the fire was on, and generally declined to act on the lines suggested. In the epd they said they would have a look and see if there was anything they would like to comment on. So far as he knew no comment had been made. Both the brigade and the board were satisfied with the pressure and that it was maintained right through. The report was that 3000 gallons per minute was thrown on the fire, a quantity regarded by experts as a tremendous amount. Next morning it was calculated that half a million gallons of water found their way to and were held in the cellars. What was the Cause? What struck the public as being evidence of want of pressure was the poor flow from the hose when thrown direct on to the building without going through the engines, continued Councillor Bennett. The answer to this was. that there were many thousands of feet of hose involved in the 14 or 10 leads which had been connected and this naturally reduced the presure behind it. It was found that without the assistance of the engines the water was hardly thrown up to the second story. There was no question so far as the water supply was concerned that it was highly efficient, so efficient that it would stand comparison with any other city in Australia or New Zealand. The pressure was as high as could be maintained without bursting the mains. He nnd Councillor McVilly, continued Councillor Bennett, pressed for publicity, but other members of the board representing the insurance companies. who looked upon the public as an inquisitorial section of the, community, opposed. The city engineer had already reported on the water pressure, but he would like a further statement from the city ,en"ineer giving his opinion as to the points which had been submitted to the board. esnei'Mly with regard to the failing in the pressure ns due to the great number of lends connected with the mains, nnd whether he could tell them whnt the result should bo. He thought n eond deni, of informntion in possession of the Fire Board should have been given to the public. Tlie Friction Theory. The Mayor said they might have bigger fires in higher buildings, and if they calculated the area of the six mams and compared them with the smaller areas of the sixteen hose, the friction must have been tremendous to lower the pressure to that extent The question of friction did not satisfy Jus mind. I would like to see those sixteen hose put on now nnd sec the stream which would Te Councillor C. D. Morpeth: We should have some sort of inquiry. n The Mayor: I think the public should be assured with regard to the efficiency. If we have not enough mains we should have enough. If we have not enough pressure we should have enough The responsibility is on the city water supply I want to make it clear whether otir supply is efficient or inefficient. Councillor Mitchell: I heard they wore leading more hose out of the engine thnn into it The whole thing should be cleared im in the interests of the city. Councillor Gaudin : Had there been any wind T don’t know what would have hapr>P Tt tl was decided that the city engineer should bring down a general report on the water pressure, with any other information he could supply on the matter