WATER FOR FIRES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 132, 15 December 1928, Page 11

WATER FOR FIRES

POOR SUPPLY IN PETONE The inadequacy of tho Petone water supply whs the subject of some discussion at the quarterly meeting of the Petono Fire Board held yesterday. Tho chairman (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) said that the flow of water from the reservoir was retarded by the incrustation of the rapes. For somo years now the water supply from the reservoir had boon augmented by pumping. More than half the water for the town, came from tho pumps, and when they wore cut off at 7 o'clock in tho evening there was a very considerable drop in pressure. The superintendent of the brigade (Mr. J. P.- Gaynor) said that however efficient the brigade might be, it was greatly handicapped if there was no water. In reply to questions by members of tho board, the superintendent stated that the pressure had been down as low as 10 and 141b at about 7 o'clock in the evening when the pumps went off. Tho pumps were started automatically in case of fire, and were beneficial, but tho trouble was that the pipes were too small. Thero was necessarily some lapse of time between the starting of the pumps and the increase in pressure. On tho motion of Mr. G. O. Edwards, it was decided to suggest to the Petono Borough Council that pumping operations should continue until 11 p.m., stating at the same time that the board trusted that the council would push on with the water reticulation scheme withut delay.