CITY AND SUBURBAN WATER SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 140, 10 March 1938, Page 10

CITY AND SUBURBAN WATER SUPPLY

Once again the question of a comprehensive water-supply scheme for Wellington city and the whole of the contiguous suburban area has invited attention. Yesterday’s discussion on the subject by the City and Suburban Water Supply Board had. in view, not Represent urgency, but an inevitable need in the future. A few years ago the then mayor of Wellington, Sir George Troup, evolved plans for the conservation of the headwaters of the Hutt 'and tributary streams, ensuring supplies for many years ahead which would meet the requirements of the city and surrounding boroughs.. In view of the substantial outlay involved the co-operation and assistance of the boroughs were essential, but neither the Lower Hutt nor the Petone borough would agree to come in. Each had its own water-supply scheme, adequate, it was then considered, for present and prospective needs. The city then had to fall back on plans of its own for the augmentation of its existing water supply, then showing a narrowing margin of safety. The result was the scheme for tapping the artesian supply in the lower end of the Hutt Valley. This scheme is subject to a 10 years’ period by arrangement with the Petone Borough Council, and to the condition that if the pressure is affected the agreement may be either modified or terminated. That the pressure is subject to a reduction was evidenced by the fall in the water-levels following the penetration of the sub-strata of the Hutt River bed by the dredging operations in connection with the reclamation scheme at the rivermouth. , It may be a question whether in their original estimates of future requirements the Leaver Hutt and Petone boroughs fully realised what a substantial increase of population was likely to be recorded as actually happened in the period immediately following their decision of a few years ago. This increase seems likely to be maintained, if- hot even accelerated, and in that event it may be necessary for them to consider ways and means of augmenting their present supplies of water for domestic use and for drainage. The action of the City and Suburban Water Supply Board in taking steps to reopen the whole question of a comprehensive scheme is therefore timely.