CONSERVING WATER

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 49, 26 August 1930, Page 16

CONSERVING WATER

LAKE COLERIDGE POWER

■PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "Tho Evening Post,")

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day

Faced with a shortage of electric power through an unprecedented draught in the back country and the consequent fall in the level of Lake Coleridge, the Public Works Department has asked the Christchurch Tramway Board to bring into operation its steam plant from to-morrow, and is appealing to the public for strict economy in the usel of domestic current.

The position at Lake Coleridge and the action taken by the Depai-tment are explained in a statement by Mr. R. G. Mac Gibbon, resident electrical engineer of the Public Works Department.

: "The drought is unprecedented .because of the unprecedented lack of rain and snow in the back country," states Mr. Mac Gibbon. "The present level of Lake Coleridge is considerably lower than- it would have- been under normal weather conditions. Since the beginning of March this year, when the lake level was 1670 feet, tho rainfall has been exceptionally low. The flow from the natural lake feeders plus that from the Harper River has been gradually decreasing until they have established a record for minimum flow. As.the draw-off from.tho lake to sup- ! ply the. turbines is greater than the minimum inflow, the lake storage has been steadily drawn upon. The level has fallen from 1670 feet at the beginning of March to 1658.9 feet at the present time, a drop of 11.1 feet.

"The new intake was designed so that, a load of. 27,000 k.w. could be carried with a lake level of 1656 feet, or a proportionately lower level with a decreased load. There is therefore still available a large amount of stois age in the lake. At the same time it is felt by the Department that should ■the present drought continue for the next few weeks the continual lowering of the lake., would result in a stage j when the maximum ■ load* at present existing could not be carried. • '.'ln order to prevent such a situation1 arising,' the, Department has asked . the Christchurch Tramway Board immediately' to operate its steam plant to full capacity. This plant will be run until such time as the situation becomes satisfactory. A great deal of assistance can be rendered in reducing the demand if all consumers exercise strict economy in the use of electricity for the next few weeks. The Department would be grateful for such assistance.

"While there is no immediate cause for anxiety regarding supply," continued Mr. Mac Gibbon, "the Department feels that in the interests of consumers generally a frank statement of the situation should be made public. The steps being taken by the Department and the assistance rendered by consumers generally will, it is considered, remove the possibility of any untoward situation arising before the prolonged drought has broken. Having regard to the possibility of similar conditions arising next year, the Department has decided to put in hand immediately the diversion of the Acheron River into Lake Coleridge. This work will be completed as soon as possible, and will provide for a considerable additional supply of water."