WATER AND SEWERAGE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 306, 29 November 1927, Page 4

WATER AND SEWERAGE.

IMPROVEMENTS A NECESSITY.

LOAN RAISING PROPOSALS.

RATEPAYERS’ APPROVAL TO BE SOUGHT.

. At its meeting last evening the Palmerston Nortli Borough Council, following consideration of a report on water and sewerage submitted by the engineer (Mr J. It. Hughes), was practically unanimous in its decision to seek approval for two loans, one for £60,155 to provide sufficient water for the town’s needs during the next ten years, and the other for the extension of the sewerage system.

The proposed work to be immediately earned out so as to improve the reticulation is really the first two stages of a comprehensive scheme to meet the demands of the town for many years to come- The cost at completion of this comprehensive scheme is estimated at £158,713, but the expenditure on the first two stages will be £60,155.

ESTIMATE OF COST OF WORK. The estimate of die cost of the water works was as follows: First Stage.

WATER SCHEME. The report of the borough engineer in. connection with the water supply was as follows: — "In January, 1921, I pointed out that the primary reason for the low water pressure experienced in the town was due to that section of the supply mains from Linton Road to College Street —one of which has been in use for 20 years—not being of sufficient size to serve the requirements of the town during periods of maximum drawoff. I also drew attention to the lack of filtering capacity, pointing out that the filters were being overworked to the extent of 80 per cent, over their rated capacity. This, in itself, during periods of extreme turbidity in the quality of the water caused a clogging of the filters and a consequent drop in pressure. This to a certain degree has been overcome by cleaning the filters twice daily, but at additional expense. In March, 1923, I again called the attention of the council to the. matter and in addition recommended that the reticulation of the town be improved by the laying of feeder mains in certain portions of the borough. In November, 1923, I submitted a comprehensive report on the subject, after investigating several sources of probable supplies, and following on this report the council decided to engage Mr H. F. Toogood to investigate and report on the whole matter. Joint recommendations were submitted for a comprehensive scheme which would servo the town’s requirements for the n'ext 30 years. These proposals provided for a new main from the present dam to the Square, increased filter capacity, additional storage capacity by the construction of a new dam on the Tiritea upstream from the present one, and large feeder mains. "Consequent on certain suggestions having been made regarding a proposal to install booster pumps in the

main to assist the pressures for firo fighting along with other minor ‘ proposals for improving matters, a further report was obtained from Messrs R W. Holmes and sons in December, 192 b. After a thorough investigation this firm of consulting engineers endorsed my original proposals in every item, and the scheme of boosting the pressures was ruled out, likewise the suggestion to install gravity filters in lieu of our present pressure filters. The only difference between Messrs Holmes and Son’s report and that submitted by Mr Toogood and myself was in connection with the route of the main from Innton Road to the Fitzherbert bridge. I have recently discussed this question agaiii with Messrs Holmes and Son and am prepared to accept their opinion on the matter. SILT IN THE RESERVOIR. "Messrs Holmes and Son have drawn your attention very forcibly to the 'state of the present reservoir. The gradual accumulation of silt is a source of worry and some measures must be adopted to remove it. I have repeatedly called the council’s attention to tho seriousness of this matter. In Decomber, 1919, 1 removed approximately 3,000 cubic yards by sluicing but without some permanent supply with which to keep the town going it is impossible to completely empty tho existing reservoir. From surveys made last year it has been shewn that the silt accumulation now amounts to over 60,000 cubic yards and displaces over 10,000,000 gallons of water, reducing the holding capacity of the reservoir to about 23,000,000 gallons. "In the case of the Fitzherbert bridge crossing, I agree with Messrs Holmes and Son that it will be inadvisable to add to the weight on the existing bridge, but, to overcome the throttling action by the exisiting 9 inch and 12 inch cast inon mains, a slight improvement can be effected by substituting the 9 inch cast iron pipe with al2 inch steel pipe. Owing to the lighter materials proposed to be used, the actual load on the bridge will be reduced by six tons, notwithstanding the fact that the delivering capacities of the pipes will be increased 25 per cent. The schedule of works submitted will convey to the councillors the costs of every item and the order in which the works 1 should be carried out.

"No doubt .one of the most important decisions to be arrived at will be the question of whether a loan should' be taken for the whole amount, £158,713, on whether it shall he divided into two portions, one for a sum of £60,155 as shown in the schedule. IMPROVING TEE PRESSURES “The question you are liksjy to ask is: ‘How long will the first portion of the 21 inch main as far as Linton Road be of use in improving the pressure before the second portion of the dam is required? My

reply is: By the year 1936. If the population of tile borough continues to increase at the same rate as in the past 10 years the population should have reached 24,000, and at the present rates of consumption,

the draw off would amount to 1,666 gallons per minute. With this flow the 21 inch mam from the 'Square to Linton Road would serve the requirements of the

borough for the next nine years, with a resultant pressure of 76 lbs. at tho Square and 401bs. at Vogel Street. This supply is based on domestic consumption only, . but should a fire of medium size occur at, say, mid-day, there would be no adequate pressure available for fire fighting purposes; it is, therefore, advisable that at the end of this period a start should be made with the laying of the. additional portion of the 21 inch main from Linton Road to the reservoir. With the 21 inch main laid right through to the reservoir ia pressuro of 12 > M _ will then be available for domestic purposes and in the event of a fire 911bs. pressure. INCREASED SUPPLY.

"With tho new dam. built up to--15 feet and the old dam cleaned out, a supply of 40,000,000 gallons will be available. At the end of 10 years the daily requirements will amount to 2i million gallons. Assuming a stream flow under drought conditions, when only 1,000,000 gal-

lons per day would bo coming in to replenish the supply, the storago ‘available would last for 26 days. It is, therefore, obvious that, at the void of vlO yeaic, lithe new dnm should be raised to its full height. It will therefore be seen that, as the work under the first schedule is suitable for the. next 10 years, the loan proposals should be for the smaller amount.

"If wonk is put in hand immediately following the taking of the loan poll, it will be June, 1929, before any benefit in the vicinity of the Square can bo derived from the laying of the new main. The construction of the 15foot dam can be completed by the end of the 1928-29 summer; as this portion must be completed before the existing reservoir can be cleaned out, it will be the autumn of 1929 before the work is in hand. In the meantime silting still continues to go on.” FUTURE PROPOSALS. The future proposals are:— Third Stage.

SEWERAGE SCHEME EXTENSION. “In November, 1920, I submitted a comprehensive report on the extension of the borough sewerage system,” said Mr Hughes m this connection. “In that report 1 recommended that the outfall sewer be duplicated and laid at a flatter gradient than the existing one, thus permitting of the north western portion of tiie borough being drained by gravitation. The scheme also included the sewering of Boundary Road. As an alternative, it was suggested that, in lieu of the duplication of the outfall sewer, a pumping station could be erected to deal with the Boundary Road sewerage by pumping it into the existing outfall. The council, however, adopted the larger scheme, but decided that proposals for a portion of the scheme should be submitted to the ratepayers, this work to comprise principally the duplication of the outfall sewer. The loan was duly submitted to the ratepayers and carried, and the work lias been completed. Subsequent proposals provided for the extension of the scheme to embrace that part of the borough lying between Featherston Street and Boundary Road, practically the portion deleted from the original scheme.

PROPOSED WORKS. "The schedule of works together with plans now submitted provide for the carrying on of the present low level outfall sewer from the junction of Chelwood Street and Kairanga Road along Kairanga Road to Featherston Street; along Featherston Street as far as Kingswood Street, thence through private property owned by Mr Seifert and the A. and P. Association to the

western end of Clausen Street; a l OI )6 Clausen Street to Wood Street. At this point an overflow pipe will be laid along Wood Street to tile corner oi Argyle Street for the purposes of relieving the backing up of the sewers, which caused so much trouble duiing winter, in Argyle Street an Annandale Avenue. Commencing again at the intersection of Wood and Clausen Streets, the main sewer will be continued along Wood Street and Boundary Road as far as Ruahine Street (late Terrace Street). “In addition to the foregoing work, provision is made for the laying of sewers in portions of Kairanga Road, Itangitikei, North, Roy, Heretaunga and Ruahine Streets, and when completed will permit of the sewers in Matipo, Konini and Ro’ngopai Streets being laid, for which money has already been deposited by the property holders. The laying of the sewer in Wood Street will enable the whole of the undeveloped land lying between Argyle Street and Boundary Road to be roaded and cut up for building sites. It has been stated that it is only the want of a sewer outfall which is holding up the development of this property. “Negotiations have been entered into with the Railway Board for the taking in of the sewage of Milson settlement and the board has already agreed to contribute a sum of £SOO towards the cost of the Boundary Road sewer, and an annual payment of £SO towards the maintenance of same. The total cost of the sewerage of Milson settlement and the conveying of the sewage to the point of connection with our sewers will be borne entirely by the Railway Department. Owing to the repeated collapse of the Ferguson Street sewer between Botantical Road and McGiffert Street, the council has already decided that this portion be included in the new schedule.” THE SCHEDULE.

£ Kairanga Road, Chelwood Street to Feathcrston Street 925 Featherston Street, portion Seddon Street through A. and P. Association’s property, Clausen Street to Wood Street 2,730 Wood Street, Clausen Street to Boundary Road 1,175 Boundary Road, Wood Street to Roy Street 2,950 Boundary Road, Roy Street to Ruahine Street .'. 2,680 Portions Rangitikei, North, Roy, Heretaunga and Ruahine Streets 1,720 vairanga Road, Featherston Street to Mangaono Stream 1,100 Ferguson Street, relaying between Botantical Road and McGiffert Street ■ 2,600 Total ’ ■ ... 15,880 First year’s interest and contingencies ... ... 1,588 17,468 Say £17,500

COUNCIL DISCUSSION. Cr. Milverton objected to t e^ eVK fthfrough pcn»a of U The Mayor 2ijS&*S£. .«o .» f-r as possible, and to pass some tion for applicatmn to the L£ Board for permission *o ra] f® V° r In moving the resolution the Mayo stated that it was stood and agreed upon that the supply scheme was a master o gency. The engineers’ reports into amply demonstrated the vital nec sity of making provision so■ as _ to enable the present dam to be clear to silt and to do this an auxiln ry would be erected. It was question of time when the quad ? of the water must be affected ~y accumulation of matter ; the pos at present was very bad and if s°. raa * thingovas not done very soon a serious position would arise. The water pressure in the Squaro was distinctly low and it was much more so at terrace End and in the vicinity of the Hospital. The water and sewerage schemes had been mentioned during the last municipal election campaign, and they were such that could be confidently recommended to the ratepayers, The sewerage proposals,, added the speaker, would give drainage to thickly populated areas of the borough at present not having that necessany facility and would also allow of the cutting up. of large residential areas. Furthermore, in regard to an improved, water supply, the ratepayers would be compensated by the action of the underwriters in cutting the insurance premiums. The Mayor then moved the following resolution: — . “That public notice be given that the Palmerston North Borough Council ’ proposes at its meeting to be held on Monday, December 12, 1927, to consider a motion to apply to the Local Government Loans Board for its sanction to the borrowing of the undermentioned sums: A—£17,500 to be applied towards the extension of the sewerage system through those streets where required. 8—£60,155B —£60,155 to be applied towards the carrying out of improvements to the water supply and reticulation, as included in tho first schedule ac-

companying the printed reports. Cr. Milverton agreed that a better pressure and a sufficient water supply were necessary, but he advocated only spending what was absolutely necessary. Then the council could go ahead and prepare a scheme that, would last the district for a century. Cr. Fitzlierbert welcomed the motion, stating that the work was absolutely essential. “If we do not take steps now we will probably find ourselves in the hot season with no water at all. If we are going to remain an up-to-date town we must do the work,” he added. Cn. Canton said that the town’s

Koluteiv essential. Cr Eliott: I think everyone recognises* that there are two esvntial.s i„ a citv’s well-being—water and sewor- * e And as the town grows we must put our hands in our pockets and provide those essentials. Ckiusen supported the motion, but he did not understand why such a biE dam had been built in the first nlacf “Why did we not build two smaller dams and keep them clear of silt?” Re asked. Cr. Mansford: These , men are experts in their line, and it is up to us if we obtain their advice to follow Cr. Tremaine intimated that he supported the motion. . , The resolution being put to the meeting it was affirmed by every member except Cr. Milveiton.

£ £ New 21in. diameter main from Linton road to Square, via Main ltoad 20,400 Additional filters, co-agulating pla'nt, and extension to buildings 7,000 Twelve inch main in Ferguson Street and 9in main, in Ruahino Street 6,500 33,900 Second Stage. New 15ft. dam with all valves etc 12,900 Clearing bush, camp, plant, tools and machinery 1,980 New 12in. diameter main connecting new dam with existing 15in. diameter main at present dam 3,300 Removal of silt in present reservoir 500 18,680 Seven per cent, contingencies and engineering 3,640 First year’s interest and Sinking Fund, 7 per cent. ... 3,935 Total for first schedule 60,155

£ £ 18in. main Rangitikei Street, East, 12in. main Foatherston Street East, 12in. main Foatherston Street West, 9in. main in Pascal and Cook Street 11,780 Fourth Stage. Widening present pipe track from Picnic Flat to present dam, formation of new roadway from present dam to new dam site 4,600 New 21in. diameter main from present d&in to Linton Road 29,350 Raising new dam to full height of 80 feet 34,420 Purchase of lands and planting same 5,000 Contribution towards construction of new traffic bridge 1,000 74,370 Seven per cent, contingencies and engineering 5,360 First year’s interest and sinking fund, 7 por cent. 6,449 Total for second schedule 98,558 Total for first schedule 60,155 Grand total 158,713