LEE STREAM

Evening Star, Issue 16664, 21 February 1918, Page 8

LEE STREAM

Observations suggested by a recent visit of the Water Committee to Lee Stream were tabled by Cr Macdonald at last night's meeting of the City Council. They set out: It. is likely that Dunedin will be called upon shortly to spend about £200,000 upon a new and permanent water scheme; therefore it is well that every councillor should seriously weigh every pro and con hearing upon so costly a scheme. Owing to the severe droughts periodically experienced, it would be well if the City had a storage supply that would last two or three months. As the City is bound to grow, the corporation should look ahead and fit the new scheme to give at least 50gal per head per day to 100,000 people, or about 5,000,000 gal daily. It follows from this that the City should have a reservoir or reservoirs capable of storing about 400,000,000ga1, while the present reservoirs combined' hold only about 100,000,000ga1, or only about one-fourth the necessary quantity. Large storage reservoirs are advisable for purposes of sedimentation, purification, filtration, and cheap administration, as well as for a stand-by supply in times of drought. More than enough rain to supply 100,000 people falls during the year upon the present catchment area if there were large enough reservoirs for purposes of storage; but. the Government apparently prevents the constructing of large reservoirs on the Dunedin or other populous localities' water shed in case of accident, unless by costlv excavations. Granted that the corporation proceed with the Lee scheme, the southern reservoir will require to be enlarged from its present capacity of about 20,000,000 gal to at least SO.OOO.OOOgaI, and if possible, 100.000,000ga1. The filtration, or possibly electrification, of the water Bupply will yearly become a more and more pressing question, and the filter beds for the southern reservoir should be constructed when enlarging it, so as to make one job of it. It is pretty certain that the Rosa Creek reservoir will" be condemned in the course of a few years, owing to its becoming surrounded by habitations and cultivated lands and other hygienic reasons'. The Leith Yalley reservoir offers good chances of being enlarged to hold 50 or 100 million gallons, as its position is good, so that all the filter beds or electrification process would be carried on at the southern and northern (Leith Yalley) reservoirs, and this would save the expense attached to several reservoirs and several filtering processes. If • the southern and northern reservoirs should be enlarged to hold 50 or 100 million gallons each, with filter beds attached, then it does not matter where a large storage reservoir mr.v be constructed. The suggested Lee reservoir is some 12 miles up stream from the intake, and in this connection the Whare Plat and a hollow under Mount Grand above the southern reservoir might, be considered as sites for storage purposes alternated with. Lee Flat. There was' abundance of water in the Lee for Dunedin purposes at the time of the committee's visit, but old residents of the district have frequently said that it is uncertain in dry or a series of dry seasons—that it is subject to sudden'flood and sudden droughts. As to the adaptability of the water for domestic purposes,, only careful analysis can verify. It looks brown, as if it contained vegetable matter, and from the nature of the rock it likely contains some mineralbut appearances point to its being suitable. The whole scheme requires much careful consideration,..by■.councillors before it is .ialsiig^eforej&^ratepay^^