CITY WATER SUPPLY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 18, 19 December 1933, Page 6

CITY WATER SUPPLY

REPORT BY ENGINEER. SUGGESTED RESTRICTION. A report covering the use of the city’s water supply during the recent warm weather and figures relating to the consumption were placed before the works committee of the Palmerston North City Council, last week, by the engineer (Mr J. R. Hughes) and were made available at the ordinary meeting of the council last night. Referring to the use of garden hoses, Mr Hughes stated: The recent warm, dry weather has been the means of bringing into use numerous garden hoses during the day time, with the usual result that the water pressures have been affected. The common practice of attaching the hose to a fork stuck in the ground and allowing the water to run day and night is becoming all ‘too prevalent. It is not generally known that this is a breach of the by-laws and every year attention has to be called to the fact by public notice in the Press. The usual notice has again been given and the inspectors (permanent and temporary) have been instructed to report all cases where breaches have been detected. The following figures regarding the consumption of water are of interest: Week Supply

It is obvious that the greater portion of this is due to the watering of lawns and gardens, and to enable the pressures to be maintained during the day time I would suggest that we adopt the usual practice of restricting the use of the hose to the hours between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Mention was also made in the report of the inspection of water taps. “The following figures are a summary of the number ot houses inspected to date and the results observed,” he added: —“Number of houses inspected, 1397; number of taps inspected, 13,398; number of taps leaking, 151.” “I have to state that there has been no shortage of water for ordinary use since February of 1932,” stated the engineer in a further report. “Even after the recent dry spell we still had water running to waste at Tiritea. “That there was a slackening of pressure on the higher levels is admitted, but this was due to the indiscriminate use of hoses. In addition to the information supplied above, a comparison of the recorded pressures at 7 p.m. on Sunday. December 10, and Sunday, December 17 (following the rain) shows an increase of 471bs. was registered. “Before the advertisement regarding unattended hoses appeared in the Press, several were found in one street alone; there were five houses observed by the waterworks foreman where hose had been left running. “That I think definitely refutes the statement that there, is a shortage of water,” declared the Mayor. “There is not a shortage, but indiscriminate waste.” The council agreed to the restriction on hosing as recommended.

ending from Tiritea from artesian Galls. Galls. Dec. 11 ... 12,000,000 3,230,000 July 19 ... 12,040,000 850,000 Totals. Dec. 11 ... 15,830.000 July 19 ... . 13,540,000 Increase in consumption 2,290,000