HAMILTON’S WATER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 45, 21 January 1928, Page 2

HAMILTON’S WATER.

SUCCESS OF CLARIFYING

TROUBLE' NOT YET OVER,

HAMILTON, Jan. 20

Although the water now being supplied to the residents of Hamilton is quite clear and of excellent quality, the Waikato River, from which it is drawn, is still turbid and discoloured. The clarifying of tlie water has been due to tlie steps taken by the Hamilton Borough Council’s waterworks staff, the water being chemically treated. Rigid restrictions on the quanity of water consumed in the town have been enforced.

The position regarding the water supply is still serious as far as the borough council is concerned and a special meeting was held to-day when the matter was further discussed. The engineer, Mr R. Worley, stated that although the turbidity of the water had decreased the trouble was not yet over. It was obvious that at every flood further large areas of country would be washed into the river. In the channel between Arapuni and Horahora, it had been estimated that over four million cubic yards of spoil had been washed away and that not more than one million yards had gone past Hamilton. Yet the river was bound to bring the remaining three million yards sooner or later, plus the quantity involved in fresh slips that could be anticipated. The main problem which confronted the council, continued the engineer, was the great damage that was being don© to the pumps, due entirelv to the large amount of fine pumice held in suspension in the water. The interior of the pumps had been ground away as much as three-eighths of an inch. The bearings ran hot and if the machines were not carefully watched great damage would be done. , , Mr Worley recommended the purchase of a pump for £835 as a temporary standby plant, and tlie council adopted the suggestion.