NEW RESERVOIR

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 88, 11 October 1945, Page 8

NEW RESERVOIR

LOWER HUTT WATER

HISTORY OF SYSTEM

The construction of the new reservoir for the Lower Hutt water system, on a ridge of the eastern hills overlooking Naenae, is ''proceeding according to schedule," and it is expected that it will be in service by about April next. The reservoir, which will hold 2,500,000 gallons, will be supplied from artesian wells. ~; .

The present water reticulation system is now being operated to. its fullest capacity to supply the growing population. In conjunction with the new reservoir, a pumping station is being built at the northern end of Hutt Park. It will draw, water from four wells which have been sunk nearby, and will pump direct into the mam reticulation system during the day. During periods of heavy demand the supply will be supplemented from the reservoir, which will be replenished by the pumps at night. The new scheme requires several additional mains and. these are either under construction or contracts have been let.

The pumping station and reservoir will supply the whole of the lower Valley arer., excluding the district west of the Hutt River; this will be supplied from the Normandale reservoir and Wiliam Street pumping station. The closing down of a pumping station at Birch Street, now working at full capacity, will become possibly when the new scheme is operating, and the Birch Street station will then be used as a stand-by. The higher areas of the city should have an adequate supply from the new system.

FIRST RESERVOIR IN 1908

Since the first community water scheme was introduced in Lower Hutt in 1908, when a reservoir holding 500,000 gallons capacity was built at Normandale, with a pumping'station at William Street drawing water from 10 wells in the western bank of the Hutt River, the civic authorities have had to supplement the supply with more wells and pumping plant. ,In 1912 the first scheme was found to'be inadequate and the Normandale reservoir was enlarged to hold 730,000 gallons. This was considered satisfactory until 1922. From that time, practically the whole of the increase in population occurred in areas which could not be served satisfactorily from Normandale. Larger pumps were installed in an effort to maintain a strong supply to these remote areas. In 1926, ,a small pumping station and reservoir holding 18,000 gallons were constructed to serve hill areas. By 1931, 20 wells had been sunk at the main station, but it was then apparent that a new scheme was necessary. To obtain temporary relief, still more wells were sunk.

Following the introduction of the State housing scheme, the Housing Department, realising that the local [authorities were not in a position to offer an adequate water supply, commenced its own scheme. Wells were sunk and a pumping station erected at Birch Street, but when the Lower Hutt City Council decided to commence a water scheme which would satisfactorily serve the new areas, work was discontinued by the Department. Since that time, the Birch Street. station has been utilised to supplement the main reticulation system: When the Taita area is fully developed, additional storage is to be provided for this district, and it is proposed to build another reservoir in the Taita; hills at the same level as the reservoir now under construction.