WATER SUPPLY

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1936, Page 4

WATER SUPPLY

PUMPING SCHEME COSTING £IB,OOO.

BOROUGH COUNCIL’S DECISION

The Hokitika Borough Council

at a special meeting last evening, adopted the supplementary report of its consulting engineer, Professor R. A. Campbell, regarding the pumping scheme for the Hokitika Borough water supply, and also decided to apply to the Loan Board for authority to borrow £IB,OOO to put the scheme into effect. This will entail a special rate of approximately 3d in the £1 on the unim-

proved value. There were present the Mayor (Mr G A. Perry), Os H. L. Michel, JKin", G. Heinz, A. P. Elcock, A. J. Thompson, E. L. Park, H. T. Parry. E. Teichelmann, and T. W. Duff. The Mayor briefly outlined the position leading up to the steps it was proposed to take. For 25 years, he said, the town and reservoir supply had been conveyed from the Lake by wooden pipes which had worn well but their condition began to deteriorate, this being especially noticeable during the long, dry spell last summer The Council immediately called in Professor Campbell who reported on the gravitation scheme, (with the pumping scheme as an alternative. The Council decided it was its duty to tr v out an y scheme which would he of advantage to the town. It 00-oper-ated with Kanieri Electric Ltd., and bores wore sunk near the 'borough boundary, the supply being adequate and pure, giving 280 gallons a minute over a period of 53 hours. Professor Campbell had then submitted a supplementary report on the pumping scheme. The Mayor urged the fullest discussion that the best decision might be reached.

He moved that the supplementary report on the pumping scheme he adopted in general. This was seconded by Cr. Parry and carried. The following is a comparison of the cost (estimated) of the pumping and gravitation .schemes : —Primping, capital cost £IB,COD; interest, sinking fund, maintenance and pumping .-expenses £ISOO a year. Gravitation scheme Capital cost £34,000; annual sinking fund, interest and maintenance £2OOO a year.

Kanieri Electric, Ltd., wrote, pursuant to negotiations with the Council, submitting proposals covering charges for the supply of electrical energy to lie used in pumping. The Company agreed to supply up to a maximum of 30k.w of electrical energy delivered at the pump switchboard for a fixed monthly charge of £26. If the maximum charge in any month exceeded 30k-w., the extra charge should be paid for at the rate of £1 per k.w, per month. Check readings would he taken frequently, and should these indicate the demand is in excess of 30 k.w., the Company should then have the right at its option to instal an approved recording demand meter, tor the use and maintenance of which the Council would pay £6 per annum. In consideration of this special rat© made by the Company the Council would agree to exteaid the date of expiration of the existing contract between the Borough of Hokitika and the Company for a period of ten years, until 1959. The Borough would accept the Company’s present diesel plant auxiliary transmission lines and interconnections between No. 1 and No. hydro plant as an adequate stand-by protection. The Company would regularly inspect the plant, and would report thereon to the Town Clerk, indicating repairs or alterations required, the cost of which would be borne by the Council.

Cr. Parry said 27k.w. would pump 200 gallons a minute, which would be more than ample for their requirements. The cost of pumping, according to the report was very low. If they still had the the Lake supply and spent £22,000 on it, slips might possibly occur, while the water might become contaminated through people bathing i/i the vicinity of theS intake. The gravitation scheme held nothing which the Council should consider. He was sure the pumping scheme was an admirable one.

CY. Heinz; When the new reticulation scheme is completed, we may only consume about 100 gallons minute. Mr Perry: If we can give the people more water than in the past we should do so. We can safely say we can allow a larger supply for legitimate purposes than had been allowed before. There had always been enough for household purposes, hut there were times when they had not been able to permit it for other uses.

Cr. Michel said the dry spells had been experir/mced here {it the same lime as in oiher districts, and the iestrictions imposed were the same as 'those elsewhere.

Mr Perry said if they wanted more than 200 gallons per minute they could put in stronger pumps at little expense, but would have to pay more for the increased power necessary. Cr. Teichelmann said they would not he doing away with the gravitation scheme until they were satisfied with the pumping scheme. The former would he there as a stand-by until it became uneconomical.

Mr Perry said that if they accepted the offer of the Kanieri Electric they would he adequately safeguarding the people’s interests. He thought the condition regarding the extension of Kanieri Electric Ltd’s contract was to the Council’s advantage. Cr Duff said they would he wise to keep the gravitation scheme intact, which could be done economically. One did not know when the supply from

the pumping plant will be' reduced* The cost of the latter proposal was well within the Council’s reach. It was very, necessary the plant should be install led and the reticulation gone onj\ with as soon as possible. /

Or Parry asked if the Council had exhausted all the avenues possible get the supply at a lower figure than lj, that which was now before them. He did not think there was any need for haste in accepting the offer of Kanieri Electric. He said he had had an offer from Mr J. S- Langford, which excluded the cost ot - installing the plant, which would be supplied. He did not want it to be said that the. Council rushed •jnto things without going into every phase. Cr Michel, regarding the Kanieri Electric, suggested they shou\ll x get the advice of an electrical engineer of standing, that he confer with'the Borough solicitor as a safeguard, . so that the Council could say it did everything. . Cr Teichelmann wa9 adverse to delaying matters too long. The sooner they got on with it the better. If there were other proposals, very good, but let the Council consider them as soon as possible.. The supply w& 8 within the borough, and it was very desirable for the Council to own its % own plant. In the end the Council , ' v " might have to take the whole plalrt over. . .« . ,

Mr Perry said if they went outside the borough for the supply they would be put to extra cost in repeating the requirements carried out in connection with the supply r decided on. The Council was also safeguarding its electric power by accepting, the offer. The scheme for supplying the borough had been in the air for,-soipe. time, and if anybody had another scheme, there had been'plenty of time to come forward with it.

To Cr Park, Mr Perry said the cost of pumping would not entail much morp| icost to the town than (maintaining The old system. Cr Michel r ‘said some relief might be .afforded the rates if the payment of instalments were spread over 36 years.

On the motion of Crs Teichelmann and Duff it was decided that the Council accept the offer of Kanieri Electric, Ltd., subject to the approval of the -consulting engineer, with the right of termination by the Council if if decided to revert to the gravitation scheme. ' ' •'■ ' Cr Parry said some speakers had'; stressed the urgency of the' mattet, but it would be six months before' Tt”* got going. > The scheme suggested %o him coulcHbe got going in a foiftni&ht. ’ \ Cr Duff: It would have to hav&Ahe ' annroval of the Health Department,' and it would take more than a fort- • night to secure that. -'

Crs Teichelmann and Michel pointed out the Council had nothing definite before them, the matter only _ having been mentiond casually■ Cr Heinz said the Minister of Publicy Works appeared to be in favour' big power schemes for tlie West Coast, and it was quite likely the BoroiifeTl might in time come under the Power i Board.

After further discussion it was un* animously decided to accept the offeV of Kanieri Electric, y Ltd. • ~ There was some disenssion on ' th® ' class of pipe to be used in the Teticril- - ation of the borough, and it was de- ' eded to obtain further information. - It was unanimously decided that application be made to the T,o ri ns Board for authority to borrow £IB,OOO. • Before this is done, public notice will be given, that auv ratepaver may have the opportunity of offering an objection, and also advising the special rate to be levied Obiections must he lodged by March 2 with the Council which will meet again on February 3. .