WATER FOE LOWER HUTT

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 83, 7 April 1936, Page 17

WATER FOE LOWER HUTT

*- SUCCESSFUL TEST BORE

•->■■ With a view to placing a loan poll before" the ratepayers of Lower Hutt 'next summer for increasing the water supply of the borough to cope with its rapid growth, the borough engineer ■XMr. K.-F. Mainland) has lor many %ionths past been gathering data re- < garding sites for new artesian wells ;a.nd their estimated flow, and the situa:,laon for additional reservoirs. Reporting to the Borough. Council last evening;' he stated that the sinking of a jim test well at the north-eastern .corner of the Birch Street Reserve had been completed, -and tests for flow had ;£een carried out with satisfactory results. The well was sunk 134 feet, and a .further 20 feet was cleaned out with Tjoring rods but not cased. It was found' that the water did not rise to 'ground level, but remained from 16 ''inches to 2 feet 3 inches below the sjurface, according to the state of the "ude; .The well was then cut off from iho bottom, each shot improving the ■■ftow, and at 112 feet a copious flow was obtained- ' . . ■

test this'flow the suction from a '4jn centrifugal pump was fixed to the lop of the'well, and after, a series of tests a flow of from 150 to 170 gallons per minute \vas obtained at'low and -High1 tide respectively.

It would appear that the main •waterbearing strata of the valley was tapped at 112 feet, but'in order to corroborate 'Ihis further investigation would be adyisaible,; and he recommended that authority be given, for the sinking of a; further 4in well at the western end of the reserve. Provision for the cost of .this could be made in the current gear's estimates.