METERS A SOLUTION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20632, 13 August 1941, Page 7

METERS A SOLUTION

LOW WATER PRESSURE PUMPING TO TAUMATA REPAIRS TO PIPELINE Proposals to make the present pipeline last as long as economically possible, making repairs and replacements over any considerable length with 18in, concrete pipes, and metering all consumers, were submitted to the Gisborne Borough Council last night by Mr. F. W. Furkert in a supplementary report on the water supply problem. In the supplementary report. Mr. Furkert discussed the problem of maintaining a sufficient pressure for fire-fighting purposes, and suggested that if metering failed to eliminate waste and secure the desired pressure at all times, then the installation of a boosting station near Lytton road at an approximate cost of £2OOO would make the present 15in. pipe provide adequate pressure and sufficient water for the rest of its life, or for 20 years if it lasted longer Against this possible expenditure of £2OOO would be placed the saving in insurance premiums by properly owners, which would not fall far short of that amount every year. ' The metering of all consumers, the total of whom was about 2500. would cost approximately £12,000, and mass ordering and contract installation should reduce the amount, which would be recoverable from- consumers. An effective steadying action to the pressure was secured by the use of the Tuamata Hill balancing tank in conjunction with the pressure in the main pipeline, but while the demand was greater than 40,000 gallons an hour the hydraulic grade fell below the tank and no water could rise to it. To replace the water lost during the day. a pressure of 1101 b. was required overnight, and that was reached only when the flow fell to 35,000 gallons an hour, and even in winter the flow was seldom less than 30,000 gallons an hour. Fire-Fighting 1 Pressure If waste could be reduced to a reasonable figure so that consumption was 80 gallons per head a day in the summer and 60 gallons in the winter, an average of 70 gallons, the present tank and 15in. main would supply the requirements with adequate fire-fight-ing pressure. If the 50-gallon standard were adopted the wants of the natural increase could he provided for without additional works for 20 years. This might be done by insistent propaganda or fearless prosecution of all persons neglecting the precautions required by the by-laws, but the universal metering method would be fair to everybody, imposing no hardshin on the man exercising moderation and showing a person wasting water through his own pocket, the way to commonsense and civic decency. The efficiency of metering was investigated some years ago in the United States, covering 68 towns with a population of 11,275,238, and in no instance did the results differ from the rule that the consumption was inversely proportional to the percentage metered, nor was it indicated that there was any variation in public health as a result of the elimination of waste. Charging by meter could be applied in a number of ways, such as a straight-out charge for all water used, a charge above a certain quantity used, or the consumer to be charged an amount equal to his water rate, at a predetermined price, and thereafter at so much per gallon.