WATER SHORTAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 31, 5 August 1940, Page 6

WATER SHORTAGE

THREAT TO SYDNEY

A TENDER SITUATION

A cable message from Sydney on Thursday reported a serious shortage of water. Additional particulars about the drought conditions there are given in a letter since received from "The Post's" Sydney correspondent.

The drought in Sydney's water supply catchment area, he writes, has lasted for six years, and has equalled the previous record of 1904 and 1910. August, in which substantial rains are normally expected, is of vital importance in the city's water future. Any failure of winter rains will compel Sydney to lace the most serious water shortage in its recent history.

The Water Board's storage policy i& based on having one year's supply in the dams at the end of a six years' drought, but present storage of 33,000,000,000 gallons represents only nine months' supply. The chief engineer (Mr. Farnsworth) forecasts a complete ban on all hoses and artificial watering appliances except for commercial and industrial uses.

Sydney's average daily consumption in winter is 82,000,000 gallons; in summer it rises to 140,000,000 gallons. The average consumption of water per day in 1935-36 was 93,912,000 gallons; for the year ending June 30 las^; it was 119,601,000 gallons. In that period, the average daily consumption per head of population served increased from 67 to 80 gallons.

Investigations by the board's officials have shown that, during the past year, too much water has been used for garden purposes. A prohibition of the use of sprinklers and fixed hoses saved 25,000,000 gallons daily. Board inspectors are also investigating the possibility of securing the compulsory shutting-off of automatic flushing appliances when not required, and also preventing waste of other water fittings in institutions, factories, and office buildings.

The shortage has been accentuated by the failure of the recently-completed £ 1,000,000 Warragamba supplemental supply, from which a steady 40,000,000 gallons daily was expected. The Warragamba River has almost ceased to flow, and the weir is 14 feet below overflow level. The river, however, responds to the briefest fall of rain, and Sydney's main hope lies in this source being replenished soon.