SHORTAGE OF WATER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1038, 10 June 1924, Page 5

SHORTAGE OF WATER.

WELLINGTON'S TROUBLES. MISHAPS TO THE MAINS. During the week-end there were four mishaps connected with the Wellington city water mains. Some parts of the city were in serious straits for want of water. The first mishap was the blow-out of a joint ih a main on Thorndon Quay on Saturday night, which was repaired as speedily as possible. • Tho second trouble happened late on Sunday afternoon, when there was a burst in the main near the Bell road service reservoir, just above the Nairn Street Reserve and Central Park. On the repair gang being summoned to the t-pot ;iy the overseer (Air Tinney), it was found that a valve In the 21-inch main had broken. As this weakened the flow in the main which leads water to the Aro Street pumping station (whence the water is pumped to the service reservoir at Brooklyn), tho Kdrori supply was turned into the Aro Street main. and as a result of the reinforced pressure a weak nine in ttie Aro street main cracked, and had to bo repaired. The gang toiled though the nitfhi to replace the damaged valve, ar.d ai rived at the yard very tired, cly to notice rr.ot ihe pressure gauge showed something like 251 b instead of 1401 bto the square inch. Mr Tinney know at once th.i ..gh this infallible tell-tale that one cf the big ma'r.s had grne somewhere between the city ailt! V. a-wetu, and he had there and then to set out and find the break, ''his was <li<cov-i»d ;.t a point on the Mutt road, about 2'.0 yards past the take-olf of tha new Khi.rcU.iinh road, between K.nuvarr.a and Xgahau;: i ga. r i"n'e burst had torn a gcod-sited hole in IMS road between the hittirhen track and the bank. After a lengthy search the damaged pipe Ivaa iiiicov.n-od, and as in the meantime new cngths of pijv had been l.i ought along to the spot, :-o time was loat in itpairing the break. , HOUSEHOLD TAPS DRY.

As the result of the break in the largest main there was trouble in the city. Residents of Newtown, Hataitai, Kilbirnie, Lyall Bay, and the whole of the Mount Victoria slopes awoke to find their taps dry, and otdy those who had hot water services, or a little water in reserve one way or another, were able to have a wash and a cup of lea. For the first hour or two telephones were kept busy inquiring the genesis of the hardship, and wanting to know when the water would bo on again. AH inquirers had to be told that there was no prospect of there being any water for an hour or so. The people on the flat in town were more fortunate, as the 21-inch main was doing its best for them, but there was riot enOitgh pressure to push the water more than a few feet up the hill. Residents of Kelburn were happily situated, for they were able to get the usual pressure from the Karori Reservoir, though that receptablo behind the western hill has not yet filled up since the rainy season began. Had it been full it would have beeti able to render more service iff yesterday's emergency. The break in the main on the Ilutt Road is believed to have occurred at about midnight, when the pressure is at its highest, between 140 rnd 1501 b. to the square inch. That part of the old main that still remains in the ground is now over 40 years of age.