AN ARTESIAN WATER FLOW AT AOKAUTERE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6869, 26 March 1929, Page 8

AN ARTESIAN WATER FLOW AT AOKAUTERE

A New Suggestion WELL SINKER OUTLINES PLAN FOR PALMERSTON The word “water” is one which at present looms large in the minds of Palmerston North's ratepayers and the indications are that the pros and cons of different solutions oi the town’s water problem will be tho verbal weapons with which candidates for mayoral office will make a case during tUo approaching campaign. In last year's water loan campaign, the phrase “artesian huppiy” bunted large and it would appear that onco again it is likely to be heard from tho hustings. In this connection, an interesting scheme for the investigation of an artesian water supply which might prove the solution of tho town’s troubles, was outlined to a reporter yesterday by Mr. H. J. Turner, of (Juba street, Palmerston North, a gentleman who has had 14 years’ experience as a well borer in the Manawatu district. Mr. Turner stated that during the course of boring operations which he had conducted for the late' Mr. B. R. Lancaster some years ago, he had sunk a pipe on a flat stretch on tie Aokautere side of the river about one and aquartei miies from the Fitzherbert bridge, along the course of the old Cliff road. tin this flat, which is situated on the side of the road near the Aokautero creamery, a flow of 40 gallons per minute had bciii obtained from a two-inch diameter pipe sunk to a depth of 08 feet, the pressure being sufficient to raise the water 16 feet above the surface. Investigation had shown that anywhere on this flat, a similar flow could be obtained at this very moderate depth and that it -would be possible to sink a chain of wells from which an unlimited supply could be obtained. Mr. Turner stated that water obtained from tho wells sunk on this flat had had the smallest percentage of mineral content of any which he had encountered, while for drinking purposes, it was remarkably pleasant to the taste. Natural Water Tower.

Not. only was an unlimited supply of excellent water obtainable, said Mr. Turner, but the configuration of the country in the immediate vicinity made the problem of reticulating pressure, one apparently easy of solution. Not more than two chains from the roadside of tho flat was a cliff on which a reservoir could be built at a sufficient height to ensure the heaviest pressure. Nature had already provided a water tower and all that was necessary was for man to supply the pumping power to raise the water to the reservoir. Although only a layman in engineering matters, Mr. Turner was of tho opinion that the laying of a pipe line across the river from the cliff would not present any insuperable difficulties, while the fact that the spot where he considered a reservoir could be built lay only a quarter to half a mile from the river obviated any necessity for a long pipe line. In addtion to this, Mr. Turned judged the fall from 100 ft. up tho cliff face to tho town side of the river to be anything from 150 to 200 feet. Tho wmter supply available, he considered to bo inexhaustible, for a four-inch diameter • pipe sunk at any spot on the flat, would yield a flow of not less than 200 gallons a minute at a depth of 150 feet.

While offering his scheme merely as a suggestion, Mr. Turner stated that he had been greatly impressed by the possibilities of that particular area. To his mind, everything was available to constitute an excellent artesian supply for Palmerston North of the present and Palmerston North of the future. A long pipe line was not necessary, adequate pressure could be obtained, good drinking water was to be had in any quantity, and to the layman, at least, the engineering difficulties involved did not appear to be formidable.

In any case, he was of the opinion that the area mentioned was well worthy of inspection in the event of artesian supply proposals being entertained. He was quite willing to conduct any interested persons to the flat and go over the ground with them.