LOCATED AT LAST

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 17, 21 January 1916, Page 8

LOCATED AT LAST

THAT ELUSIVE LEAK

IN \JICINITY OF BASIN i RESERVE.

The elusive leak in the city's water supply system, which has caused the City Council officers a great deal of anxiety, was located at 11 o'clock this morning. After much diligent searching it was discovered that the mysterious wastage was due to a burst main,, the locality of the leak being in Rugby-street, just alongside the south side of the Basin Reserve. The main —a 12-inch one—runs right underneath the along Kent-terrace, across the centre of the Basin, and up Ade-laide-road, supplying Newtown, Kilbirnie, Lyall Bay, and other districts ! with water. By a remarkable coincidence, the leak was under !/he footpath just where the main intersects a stormwater culvert. ' The result was that most of the water was rushing down the culvert, and emptying itself in the harbour. This accounted for the fact that there was no outward indication of where the water was finding.its clandestine outlet. LOOKING FOR A CLUE1. Ever since the shortage of -water occurred three days ago, the City Council engineering and drainage staffs, under Mr. W. H. Morton (City Engineer), had been working day and night in an endeavour to elucidate the mystery. All manner of theories were advanced, and there was a strong suspicion that the leakage was located somewhere near the Wainui-o-mata, although there was a full supply of water in the dams there. One suggestion was that the Bell-road reservoir, which is connected with Wainui by a large main, had become empty, and there was not sufficient pressure, owing to the recklessness of those consumers whose water supply was unaffected to force the water up into the reservoir again. Another theory was that owing to the volcanic nature of the soil of Wellington the water might be oozing away undetected; while another was that it might be making a surreptitious exit along the.beaches on the Hutt road. An exhaustive examination of fourteen miles of the leading main was made, but not the slightest clue could be obtained towards a solution of the mystery. The fact that some 7,000,000 gallons of water were unaccounted for clearly showed that the leak must be a huge one, and it was therefore all ths more baffling that it should remain undetected. SUBTERRANEAN EXPLORERS. Ac soon as the trouble occurred, men belonging to the City Council staff were told off to explore the network of sewers and culverts under the city, and also to i inspect the outlets along the waterfront. These subterranean explorers had carried out their task ceaselessly, and were out all last night. Thi6 morning some of them, under Mr. Johnson, Assistant Drainage Engineer, examined the under- ! ground storm water culvert which crosses over from the Boys' Institute, thence down Rugby^street and across the adjoining stretch to Clyde-quay Wharf. On opening the manholes they found that the culvert, which is practically only in full use in wet weather, was quite a rushing torrent. Upon one of the men entering a manhole, and proceeding along underneath Rugby-street, he discovered the water pouring into it like a waterfall where the main crossed it. Mr. Morton and Mr. Morice (Assistant Engineer) were at once informed, and were quickly on the spot to give instructions. By 12.40 p.m. pick and shovel men were hard at work digging up the footpath and roadway along the line of the main. It was not long before the culvert was revealed to view and a little later the offending main was laid bare. The leak also extended outside of the culvert, and in spite of the fact that the water wag turned off at the valve it flowed out freely when the break was laid bare. The work of digging up the roadway was decidedly strenuous, as it is laid in tarred blocks, and it was some time before the pick made any impression on. these. The culvert had al»o to be broken open, but it is hoped that the work of repairing Che main will be completed some time this evening. A SIMILAR "BREAK." Mr. Ward, who has been the Corporation turncock for very many yeafcs, remembers a similar leakage some twentyfive years ago in the identical spot. On that occasion a good deal of investigation was also necessary before it could be traced. Those residents of Lyall Bay, Kilbirnie, Newtown, and other localities that have been minus water for three days, will welcome the news that their supply is likely to be back to • normal shortly. Not the least pleased will be Mr. J. P. LUke, the Mayor, whose residence in Hiropi-street was amongst those cut off, and whose water for household purposes had yesterday to be carried from the next door neighbour's. With the City Engineer he had been deluged with enquiries as to what the cause of the shortage was, and had only been able to inform irate ratepayers that the corporation officers were doing everything in their power to locate the leakage.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Since the breakfast hour on Wed-, nesday the majority of the residents of Lyall Bay (or Maranui) —together with many other people, I have' yet to learn the reason for haying two names for this centre of population---have been without a regular supply of water. Without any warning, the usual service ceased, and visitors were at a loss, to know where to obtain water. Towards evening a number located a large tank at the local butchery establishment, and the procesgion of people, carrying all manner of utensils ■ for holding the precious liquid, was a sight calculated to inspire an old miner with experience of Western Australia with a vivid recollection of conditions on some of the goldfields! On the second day of the shortage the dispenser of water was obliged to reduce the allowance, in order to equitably distribute the commodity. This note is prompted by a desire to record appreciation of the benevolence of one who had the foresight to make provision for a contingency such as that under review. Especially from a sanitary aspect, a water famine is a matter of serious concern, and it is to be hoped that proper steps will be taken to guard against a recurrence. Thanking you for the space monopolised.—l am, etc., A. C. HOLMS. Lyall Bay, 21st January. TO THB EDITOR. Sir, —The present stoppage of the water supply should be a lesson to the citizens to insist upon the council no longer hesitating to at once proceed with the construction of a tunnel to connect with the Orongo-orongo stream. How is it that the condition of the water iv the Bell-road reservoir did not attract the attention of the authorities before the matter became serious/ Some time ago attention was called to the fact that the council should insist that every house connected with the water supply should have a 400-gallon tank, at least, attached to the supply—this chiefly for flushing the water closet. The reduced pressure was apparent early on Wednesday morning.—I am, EVERLASTING WATER WANTED. Wellington, 21st January.