PALMERSTON’S WATER SUPPLY

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2311, 2 December 1925, Page 2

PALMERSTON’S WATER SUPPLY

INVESTIGATIONS BY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. “Palmerston North Is a growing, progressive town, but it is far from what it should bo from a fire-fight-ing point of view," stated the chairman, Mr. H. L. Young, when introducing the question of the water reticulation of Palmerston North at the monthly meeting of the Palmerston North Council of th o Chamber of Commerce held yesterday. “The town i s reticulated in such a manner that the brigade cannot concentrate The water supply when occasion demands. There have been at times a pressure of only 35lbs. a square Inch, when there should have been a pressure or lOOlbs.,” said Mr. Young. “If we get a concentration of water in Palmerston North, we are going to got a reduction of from five to twenty per cent, from insurance companies. The interest on the loan of £33,500 w’hlch is required for water reticulation and building of a dam, will be £2,345, talcing the rate at 6 per cent., with 1 per cent, sinking fund, and this sum will be more than paid by the reduction in the insurance premiums. Reticulation is the trouble. Although there I 3 plenty of water available, it cannot be concentrated and if the Borough Council was to bring down the loan, it should have the support of the Chamber of Commerce,*’ Pumping Englries (Suggested.

Mr. Mi H. Oram’ pointed out that the difficulty lay in the fact that the town had so grown that tho present, system of piping was inadequate to allow a good pressure to be obtained in the distant quarters of the town. Tho present dam was also silting up and in a few years would have to be cleaned out. Thu proposed loan included the cost of building an extra dam and if this was erected would mean that the cleaning of the old dam could be carried out without causing any loss in the pressure. There was another big difficulty and that was Pratt’s hill, where the pipe line now went over and this hydraulic grading affected tho pressure. Tho new scheme provided that tho pipe line should be taken round the hill. A system of main pipes would be necessary and a system of feeders reticulating from the Square to tho distant quarters of tho town would have to be scientifically carried out. It had been suggested to him by a ratepayer that the Fire Brigade should be provided with pump engines similar to those of London. Filthy Drinking Water.

It was pointed out that the water was* filthy for drinking purposes at times, being of a very dirty colour. Mr. Oram stated that the trouble was that five times the water that should be passed through the filters was being allowed to go by, but that could not bo helped at present. Tho water was not injurious to health, but if the new darn was erected, tho old dam could bo cleaned and that would help matters a great deal. Mr. J. j. O’Shea pointed out that the - Railway Department would require water at MUson suburb and that would reduce the supply a little, The chairman: “On Monday mornings yo u will be lucky to get any.”

Following further discussion, It was decided to leave the matter with the chairman and Mr. Oram to approach the Borough Council and Fire Board on the matter.