WATER SUPPLY QUITE INADEQUATE FOR FIRE EXTINCTION PURPOSES

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6867, 23 March 1929, Page 8

WATER SUPPLY QUITE INADEQUATE FOR FIRE EXTINCTION PURPOSES

CONDEMNATION PROM INSPECTOR T. T. HUGO. Further condemnation of Palmerston North’s water supply for fire-fighting purposes was received from Mr. T. T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire-brigades, at yesterday’s meeting of tho ralmerston North Fire Board,. As illustrating the extent to which the town had outgrown the capacity of the present supply system to cope with fire, Inspector Hugo stated that in 1913 the average pressure at noon was 851b.s and at midnight Hslbs. Even then with the flow of tho reservoir given us being 400 feet above street level, equal to a static pressure of 1731b5. there was a loss due to friction and the constant draw off, equal to SSlbs. From 1913 there had been a steady loss in pressure until 1926 when the, average was 401bs. at noon and 701bs. at midnight. In 1928 the pressure was returned as uncertain examination of the brigade logbook shewed that at times the pressure between 7 n.m. and 7 p.m. fell as low as lSlbs. and under while for many days the pressure during the same 12 hours averaged only 351 bs. and less and it was apparent that if during such hours, a fire got anything of a start in one of the larger risks, disastrous consequences must be expected. The prevailing conditions were such as to clearly demonstrate that tho distributing mains and a largo part of the reticulation, were quite unequal to provide anything like an adequate supply of water for fire extinction purposes in Palmerston North. The question of providing increased storage had also to be faced but at the moment improvement of the reticulation was the most urgent matter. The chairman (Mr. A. J. Graham) stated that the Borough Council was attending to the water question and he Loped that before manv months had passed something satisfactory would be done. Mr. Parton commented upon the difference of opinion amongst members of the Palmerston North Borough Council and thought that much of the indecision on the part of the ratepayers was due to that lack of unanimity.