WATER MAIN BURSTS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 114, 9 February 1944, Page 6

WATER MAIN BURSTS

Old Line From Wainui

There is no cause for surprise when the 24-ineh water inain from Wainui to Wellington city breaks. This main was. the original one laid over half a century ago when the first Wainui reservoir was constructed: but how much of the original main remains after all these years is not known. A break occurred in the Hutt Road section yesterday morning, and such was the pressure that the surface of the road was lifted, and the road itself was flooded for a distance.. ' The break may have been caused by the slight earthquake experienced earlier iu the day, as this length. of main has always been particularly sensitive to such action. The pressure dropped appreciably in the city, consequent on the valving off of the old main, and the release of greater pressure from the Karori reservoir. The city engineer, Mr. K. E. Luke, said that in some cases water was seen running down side channels, but that did not mean breakage in nearby water pipes. It was due,to the reduction in pressure causing the' ball cocks to cease functioning properly. That in turn caused water to well up from the city hydrants in some places. It was regrettable that the break in the old main should have occurred when the draw-off was building up, as it nieaut that some residents ot the higher levels of the city were left temporarily without water. Pressures were restored, shortly after 8 a.m., by which time repair gangs were at work on the Hutt Road. The men will work on shifts continuously till repairs are completed.