Mud in the Mains

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 272, 20 November 1934, Page 8

Mud in the Mains

DEINKIN J WATEE LIKE TEA-SOUP Pea-soup in Ilokowhitu; coffee at West End. This was how councillors J. Hodgens and G. Tremaine described the water that came from the taps yesterday. Councillor Hodgens wanted to know what had happened.

The Engineer (Mr J. If. Hughes) said that since the cleaning of the reservoir the big dam had not had a chance to get properly full, with the result that the city had had to draw its .supply from the small reservoir farther up the Tiritea. Then came the sudden .storm on Sunday afternoon, and the water came down like y. tidal wave. The caretaker’s immediate thoughts were for the screens at the little dam, which had to be cleared of driftwood, otherwise the supply to the city would have stopped. He had to disregard the filters for a while and look after the screens. Meanwhile, Mr Hughes said, he sent out two extra men to look after the dam, so that the caretaker could get back to the filters,- which had become blocked. It was an occurrence which was not likely to happen again. The big dam was now full.

Two additional men are to be appointed by the City Council to track down those too enthusiastic gardeners who break the bylaw in respect of the use of mechanical hosing apparatus and otherwise fail to hold the hose while watering'. The Mayor and councillors expressed concern at the low pressure in the mains, Councillor Cameron stating that a resident on FileHerbert hill could not. get water from the taps of his upstairs bedroom, so what chance had anyone at Terrace End? It seemed the trouble was outside the city. The Engineer explained that it was all a matter of the draw-off.