WATER SUPPLY

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1938, Page 2

WATER SUPPLY

INVERCARGILL FACES SHORTAGE

(Per Press Association —Copyright),

INVERCARGILL, April 27

The long period of dry weather in Southland has caused a serious shortage of water and in many country districts where the supply is drawn from rain water tanks, householders have been carting their water. The position lias more acute in the last, week and there is urgent need of rain to relieve the situation.

Except for a shower early on Monday morning and a fairly good lainfall the previous Wednesday, tlrw has been no rain at Winton tor several weeks, and business people have had to obtain water by means of a lire brigade pump from the borough well but the pump has now broken down and those who have no water draw their supplies from wells. Even that source, however, is not reliable, as some of the wells have become Uv for the first time in the history of tie district.

A man who lias lived on the bank tf the Oreti river for the last 4b years says that he has never seen the river as low as it is now. The Winton creek has also practically dried up. Invercargill itself is not yet faced with any serious shortage, although there is a reduction in the level of the water in city supplies, and pumping costs are higher. It is not proposed to impose any restrictions in the meantime.