NO GENERAL SHORTAGE

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 February 1947, Page 6

NO GENERAL SHORTAGE

WATER SUPPLY AT GREYMOUTH BLAKETOWN INVESTIGATIONS The reason for the unsatisfactory water pressure disclosed by the Greymouth Fire Brigade’s tests at Blaketown on Monday evening is, at the moment, obscure and a full investigation of the supply system in the suburb is being made to-day by the Borough Council. The reservoir on Omoto road has been kept full during the present dry spell with little above the normal hours of pumping from the riverside wells and it is stated that no difficulties have been experienced in regard to the supply. Apart from occasional hardness of the water, as the result of seepages from the limestone/country, the Greymouth water supply is not affected by dry weather and it is thought that the trouble in Blaketown must have a local origin. . Some of the mains in Blaketown have been down for many years, but shortly before the war a large section of the chief feeder main, along Preston road and across the lagoon bridge was re-laid. To-day’s _ tests will include a check on the mains in various parts of the suburb. Reports from other sections of Greymouth do not indicate that there has been any great reduction in normal pressures during the present dry spell, but there have been some alterations during periods of heavy draw-offs, in the eveningwhen householders have been using hoses freely or when the swimming baths have been re-filled. Some householders in Blaketown have reported low pressures for some time, but as they point to inexplicable variations in the same area, the possibility of faulty individual connections is being investigated along with the general check-up on the mains. As far as possible, a check is also being made to ascertain whether the draw-off at Blaketown on Monday evening was far above the normal. Until the reason for the low pressure can be ascertained definitely and remedial meausres taken, if possible, it is necessary for Blaketown residents to exercise care in the use of water for other than essential household requirements. As was pointed out by the Mayor, Mr. F. A. Kitchingham, yesterday, the pressure of 201bs. to the square inch, which was all that was available for the brigade on Monday evening, would be almost useless for fire-fighting purposes. With the present dryness of the vegetation, fire hazards are greater at present than is normally the case, and risks cannot be taken.

The Evening Star’s Kumara correspondent reports that the water shortage caused by the continued dry spell, is acute in Kumara, and that the Fire Brigade was occupied throughout Saturday filling the tanks of householders with the aid of a motor pump.