WATER MAIN BURSTS.

Grey River Argus, 13 January 1928, Page 2

WATER MAIN BURSTS.

Napier Sensation. RESIDENTS APPREHENSIVE. RESERVOIR ALMOST EM'PTY'. NAPIER, January 11. Hastings was put iu a position of considerable potential danger this evening, through tho bursting of one of the water mains al the borough pumping station. It is expected that the supply will not be fully in commission again till early tomorrow evening), and iji the meantime l/ie reservoir is almost empty. The break occurred at about halfpast five, and within an hour the water-level dropped two feet. A't 8 o’clock there was only three feet of Water, and at 10 o’clock, 1G inches. Hastings’ power house, which has an auxiliary pump of about one-sixth of the borough, supply, was still 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 artesian wells will not be affected. In the meantime, tho position is full of obvious danger, for a fire in town would probably be the cause of drawin goff 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 use water with tho most stringent econ*omy +o-morrow. There will be little availshTe for more than the meagre necessities, but it is hoped that the Napier Foundry, which is working all night to cast the new pipo. will have completed its work so that a full supply will be available early this evening. That it will be so, is not bv anv means a certainty.