LAKE FILLING UP

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 155, 28 March 1932, Page 8

LAKE FILLING UP

Last Stage at Arapuni EFFECT ON WAIKATO RIVER By Telegraph—Press Association. Hamilton, March 26. The gates in the diversion tunnel at Arapuni were closed down ari’S p.m. on Thursday and a gang of men was rushed: into the tunnel to bore'deep holes in the concrete lining as a precaution against any water pressure that might develop in the country from possible seepage from the lake. This work took an hour and a. half, after which the gates were slightly raised in order to allow a nominal amount of generation at Horahora. The lake is filling rapidly at present, but it will be slower as the level rises and a larger expanse has to be covered. As the result of rain it is estimated that the filling time may be reduced. Following the filling of the lake, the level of the Waikato River has fallen five feet below normal, aud as a result Hamilton’s water supply has been seriously affected. The intakes at the pumping station are now above water, aud the borough is relying solely on the reservoir for the borough supply. At the request of the borough engineer, 1500 cusecs of water were released at Arapuni this morning to alleviate the situation. With the level of the river thus raised no further anxiety in this connection need be felt here. With the appreciable drop in the level of the Waikato River at Hamilton shoals and snags have appeared, rendering bathing on any stretch of the river fraught with considerable danger. Both the wharves of the Roose Shipping Company at Hamilton are high and dry, and all river transport here is suspended. The extent to which the water level has dropped can be gauged from the fact that it is possible at various points of the river at presenfta walk practically waist high from bank to bank. The public in the meantime is requested to exercise rigid economy iu the use of water.