THREATENED WATER FAMINE. ALARMING DECREASE OF WATER IN THE RESERVOIR.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 72, 28 March 1881, Page 2

THREATENED WATER FAMINE. ALARMING DECREASE OF WATER IN THE RESERVOIR.

The state of the reservoir at the present time is certainly becoming alarming, and, unless rain falls within the next few days, and that very heavily, the distributing basin will be dried np, and the city will be without water for domestic or fire-preventing purposes. On Saturday last the depth of water in the reservoir was 24ft Sin, as against 49ft 9in the same day latt year. By Snnday morning it had decreased 15 inches and during the day and evening it went down on additional 14 inches. This morning the depth recorded was 22ft lOin— less than half the depth Bhown this day last year. This is a very Berions matter indeed, -and should cause oitiu ens to be careful of every drop of water they use. Providing the supply de« oreased only at the present rate^-15 inches per day — there is then at the very outside only about seventeen days' store to work upon, unless heavy rain set in before the expiration of that time ; bat it must be borne in mind that the basin slopes in as it goes down, and consequently each day's diminution will bo greater than on the previous day. It must also be remembered that there is probably Beveral feat of sDt in the basin, whioh still further reduoes the depth of water. Taking all these circumstances into consideration, it will be seen that there is really not a fortnight's supply in the reservoir at the present time. The prospect of rain doee not appear to be any greater now than it did a week ago. The barometer is still very high, and experience shows that there is seldom any appreciable amount of rain during April, May, or the early part of June, the two firstnamed months usually being exceedingly fine and dry, with the highest barometer readings of the year. There is no doubt that Wellington runs serious risk of witnessing a water famine, snch as has never been known in this city, and the evil resultß of whioh cannot be over«eiti« mated. It is difficult to procure water for * domestic purposes from any place convenient to the city, and should a fire break out while 1 the reservoir is dry incalculable damage would be done. In conclusion, we urge > again upon citizens to be as careful as possible with the present supply.