WAIPAOA WATER MAY HAVE TO BE PUMPED FOR BOROUGH SUPPLY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22582, 10 March 1948, Page 4

WAIPAOA WATER MAY HAVE TO BE PUMPED FOR BOROUGH SUPPLY

HOSING BANNED IN GISBORNE

£)N and after today aii hosing and the use of supply water for any other than domestic purposes is prohibited in the Borough of Gisborne.

Unless rain fails in the Wainguke catchment area before the end of this week, water will have to be pumped from the Waipaoa River into the town supply mains.

The decision to prohibit hosing was made on the motion of the Mayor, Mr. X. 11. Bull, seconded by Mr. F. Toierton, at last night’s meeting of the Gisborne Borough Council. “The position with the water supply is very serious, and I appeal to the general public to conserve In every possible way the water which remains in the Mangapoikc dam," said the Mayor. ‘ If rain does not fall soon it looks as if we will have to use water from the Waipaoa River. The council has done its best in providing water this year, but, unfortunately, the lack of rain appears to have beaten us. CO,OOO Gals, a Day For Hosing “About 60.000 gallons of water a day are used for legal hosing, but 1 am afraid that there is a large amount of illegal hosing. “At fin. ooo gallons of water a day, about 2,000.000 gallons a month is used. ■‘Had hosing been prohibited four months ano this unfortunate position would only have been brought on the council one week later." Gisborne was not alone in prohibiting hoses, as water sunplies were particularly low in manv other areas in New Zealand. Auckland and other North and South Island towns had had to prohibit hosing some time ago and Gisborne was one of the last boroughs to enforce these restrictions, the Mayor pointed out. “If water has to be used from the Waipaoa River it should be boiled as a precaution," warned the Mayor.

Only Few Days’ Supply Remains “The present record drought has caused the storage at Mangapoike to be depleted to such an extent that only a few day's supply remains." stated Mr. Beaumont "The estimate of 13.000.000 gallons in the reservoir last Thursday was based on the original preliminary survey of the area ana was subject to error. "Present indications are that the water available will be exhausted about next week-end “When this happens it will be necessary to augment the supply with about gallons per day. even if restrictions are placed on hosing and the use of water for gardens.

Various methods of saving water, such as less bathing and the turning off of taps in water closets at night were suggested by Mr, Bull. Mr- I. J. Quigley asked that steps should be taken by the council to enforce the by-law providing that hoses should not be used. ‘ ‘ Anti-Social ’ ’ Law-breakers The Mayor thought that it was the duty of all citizens to report anyone seen using hoses and he made an appeal to this effect. “Anyone who broke the law in this resnect, should be treated as anti-social and was a menace to the otlmr householders, Mr. Bull declared.

He also pointed out that not only were hoses prohibited, but residents must not carry buckets of supply water for use on gardens. However, if the water was used for domestic purposes, such as washing or bathing first, it could then be poured on to plants. A special report on the water supply, as well as his fortnightly report, was submitted to the council by the borough engineer, Mr G. M. Beaumont.

"The only source within reasonable distance of the pipeline where this amount is available is the Waipaoa River near the Bridge Hotel. Arrangements are in hand to secure on hire two elec.rically-dnven pumps from the Works Department, each capable of delivering 14,000 gallons per hour or more. "h is estimated that the prohibition of hosing will reduce the demand by about 60.000 gallons per day. It is suggested that the use of hoses be prohibited. its well as the use of any water in containers tor gardening or other purposes except domestic or essential commercial uses. "Owners oi premises fitted with flushing urinals or other automatic devices should be instructed to shut them off at nights. By these means it should be possible to reduce the consumption from the present figure of 1.150.000 gallons per day to between 600,000 and 900,000 gallons per day." Rainfall 22 Per Cent Down The average rainfall at Waingake for the four months ended February was 13.47 in., but this season the total for the period had been 3.03 in. which was 22 per cent of the average stated Mr. Beaumont in his fortnightly report. The nearest former approaches to this figure was in 1930-31 and 1931-32 seasons when the rainfall was 4.54 in. and 4.46 in. respectively. The demand for water had increased considerably since 1932. The Inflow to the Waingake reservoir was 20 300 gallons per hour on March 5 continued the report. The Mangapoike dam impounded about 13,000,000 gallons of water at present, and this was being drawn off at the rate of about 650,000 gallons per day. The quality of the water would probably deteriorate as the amount impounded was reduced.

The draw-off of water for the week ended February 23 was 8,200,000 gallons, while in the week ending March 1 this decreased to 8,090 000 gallons. The rainfall for February at Waingake totalled 46in. None has fallen to date this month.

The sub-contractor for the pipeline from the Mangapoike dam to W T aingake had been carrying on with repairs and testing.