HUTT WATER SUPPLY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 17, 21 January 1939, Page 14

HUTT WATER SUPPLY

EFFECT OF POWER FAILURE

MORE STORAGE NEEDED

The rapid increase in the population of Lower Hutt has placed a heavy load on the water storage capacity of the borough and has changed what used to be a twenty-four hours' storage supply to a ten hours' supply and when, as occurred yesterday, there is a failure in the supply of electrical power to the pumps, the position causes serious concern to the borough authorities. Yesterday, in the main borough reservoir, the supply was reduced till there was only two feet of water left, and those in charge had a most anxious time till the restoration of the power supply permitted the pumps to be put into action again.

The Lower Hutt Borough has been alive to the position for some time, and the engineer (Mr. Bach) is at present engaged in preparing estimates in order that a loan proposal may be submitted at an early date, for the extension of the borough's water storage and reticulation.

The Mayor (Mr. J. W. Andrews)

stated yesterday that the northern portion of the borough, which is also the highest portion, is largely dependent on boosting from the Birch Street wells and the power failure made it impossible to do this yesterday. Mr. Andrews said that all the information necessary for submission to the Loans Board would be ready within the next six weeks or so and on receipt of the board's approval an early appeal would be made to the ratepayers.