Water Supply

Hutt News, Volume 16, Issue 37, 10 March 1943, Page 2

Water Supply

THE HTJTT VALTiiHY

PROGRESS OF SCHEME . .

Necessarily, owing to war conditions, progress with, the major water scheme for Lower Hutt City is Blow but considerable preparatory work has been accomplished. The scheme which provides for an expenditure of £160,000 was approved by the ratepayers a year ago in February, and since then a reservoir site on the eastern hills at the northern end of the city, and a pumping station site on the Hutt Park have been secured. The reservoir will have a capacity of 2,000,000 gallons and four artesian wells will each be Sin. diameter (the largest yet put down in the Hutt Valley). Almost all the steely reinforcing for the concrete reservoir has been secured, and, as soo-n as labour conditions permit, tenders will be called for the construction of the reservoir.

A contract for the sinking of the wells has been let to a Dunedin firm and as soon as the plant arrives, a commencement will be made. When sufficient progress has been made an order for the pumps will be placed.

By arrangement with the State Housing Department, a considerable quantity of the trunk mains for the northern reticulation is now available. The supply of water for the proposed State houses in the northern area is not necessarily contingent on the new scheme, as the capac ity of the present pumping station at Birch Street has been ily increased to cope with this demand, and when the major scheme is ready the pumps, temporarily installed at Birch Street, will be transferred to the Hutt Parle station. The major scheme calls for a 21-inch main from the Hutt Park to the new reservoir. Incidentally, should there ever be from any cause, a failure of the Hutt Valley artesian supply, the scheme provides for a change over to pumping water direct from v the Hutt River to a purifying plant.