HASTINGS WATER SUPPLY

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 January 1928, Page 3

HASTINGS WATER SUPPLY

BURSTINGOF MAIN. (Per Press Association.) NAPIER, January 11. Hastings was put in a position of considerable potential danger this evening, through the bursting of one of the water mains at the borough pumping station. It is expected that the supply will not be fully in commission again till early to-morrow evening, and in the meantime the reservoir is almost empty. The break occurred at about halfpast five, and within an hour the water level dropped two feet. At 8 o’clock there was only three feet of water, and at TO o’clock, 16 inches. Hastings power house, which has an auxiliary pump of about one-sixth of the borough supply, was Mill kept working, but until a special new pipe is cast, it will be the only source from which Hastings can draw its supply, though many residents who have artesion wells .will -not be affected. In the meantime, the position is full of obvious danger, for a fire in town would probably be the cause of drawing off the whole' of ,the available supply in a few minutes. During the night, the Havelock North plant will be able to pump to make up a little reserve supply, but the residents there have been warned to uge water with the most stringent economy.to-morrow. There will be little available for more than the most meagre necessities, but it is hoped that the Napier Foundry, which is working all night to cast the new pipe, will.have completed its work, so that a full supply will be available early this evening. That it will be so, is not by any means a certainty.