Pahiatua Water Question

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 151, 29 June 1938, Page 8

Pahiatua Water Question

RATEPAYERS TO DECIDE ON MANGAHAO SCHEME

At a special mooting on Monday evening all members of the Pahiatua Borough Council were present. Mr. H. T. Toogood, the borough consulting engineer, was also in attendance, and the report put before the council was as follows: —

As many salient points in regard to the matter of water supply for your borough may bo buried too deply in the files to be appreciated, I wish to draw attention to them.

Supply of water from springs.—This source can be accepted only as an expedient. The hardness of tho water and the uncertainty of continuity of supply, together with the constant care demanded by the Health Department to prevent surface contamination, forces upon one the Necessity to take the view expressed. As an expedient, the springs may serve for some time, and it is possible that they may be further developed when definite knowlcdgo of their permanent yield is known.

The Health Department has expressed the opinion that the supply from the springs now opened up must be considered with the same suspicion us that from ‘ * shallow wells." However, it the time has not arrived when a more reliable source can be tapped and u more acceptable quality of water made available, the springs will serve at least for tho time being.

Mangahao supply.—The water from this source is approved by the Health Department. The following is a copy of a memorandum received from the District Medical Officer of Health, under date October 21, 193 C reply to your letter of the 22nd., 1 enclose fcue” analyst’s report on samples of water from tho Mangahao rivor after heavy rain. In view of the satisfactory findings tho scheme as suggested, utilising the natural filtration of the riverbed and an automatic cessation when turbid, should be satisfactory from this Department's standpoint. ’ ’ With regard to the method of making the supply available (that is, by pumping or by gravitation), the question has been fully investigated by the Public Works Department, and the lion. Minister or Public Works in the memorandum dated February 23, 1937, states: —"In reference to your letter of the 28th. regarding the Pahiatua water suppl}', I have to advise you that my engineers have gone carefully into the report and engineering data supplied by you in connection with the proposed water supply, and generally your reports are concurred in. Tho main question involved is a decision as to whether a gravity scheino or a pumping scheme should be adopted. My officers aro of tho opinion that in view of the very large difference in cost, tho pumping scheme is the one that should bo adopted." It is possible that bringing theso points before the council at this juncture will save considerable time in discussion. In the past the council has dealt with the question of water supply improvement from two aspects: (a) A greater supply of more acceptable water and (b) Improvement in the reticulation and more adequate fire protection. While in the ultimate both aspects are inter-connected in tho solution of your problem, they may, at the wish of the council, be dealt with to some extent separately. It is possible to obtain a supply from Mangahao and still use the present inadequate reticulation. The borough would then have a better quality of water, but very indifferent fire protection. Alternatively, tue springs, if their constancy of supply is proved, might bo developed. With this alternative there would be only a slight improvement in the quality of tho water in respect of hardness, but if the alteration to tlio reticulation were proceeded with great improvement to fire-fighting could be secured. I am inclined to the opinion that if the whole scheme included the Mangahao supply and improved reticulatiou is not adopted, the obvious defects in partial adoption will overshadow tho benefits secured and considerable disappointment will result. Use of unemployment funds.—lt is difficult to discuss the question of use of tho men now remaining on the unemployment register. Skilled men at present are fully employed, and therefore what remains ure unskilled and in a largo majority of cases aro below normal physical condition, due either to ago or infirmity. Uudor these conditions it is impossible to estimate (a) the labour costs, (b) the time of completion, and (c) tho amount of wages to be paid directly by the council for skilled men required and who would uot bo found on the unemployment register. The council may be fortunate in finding a number of suitable men on tho register, but, as it is not likely, I have estimated, as far as 1 am able, against the contingency referred to above. Tho estimated costs are based on pipes, for which a useful life of 30 years is assumed by tho Loans Board, and tho sinking fund to L»e provided of £1 18s 9d per £IOO has been estimated. As tho aunual cupital charges will be about equal in either case, and as circumstances might arise which would compel you to uso the more expensive pipes, I recommend you to allow (ho extra £I7OO. Tho chiof object in asking mo to report at the present juucturo is to ascertain tho amount of money which tho borough will require to raise in order to carry f out tho proposals. To this ond I have mado tho following estimates: —(a) J Materials and equipment, (b) tools, plant and cartage, (c) skilled workers J required in tho execution of tho work, but whiclt one would not expect to find Jut present on tho unemployment regieIter, (d) engineering and general supervision. Tho remaining costs, being tho

unskilled labour required, would be mot by tho employment branch. Details of tho estimates arc:—lntake reservoir and supply main: Materials, £5800; cartage, £3OO, skilled labour, £350, or £6150. Reticulation: Materials £B2OO, cartage £450, skilled labour £675, or £0325, malting £.15,775. Adding general supervision, engineering and contingen-

cies, £1525, and cost of concrete-lined pipes, £1700; total, £19,000. 1 have spent considerable time on this occasiou in revising tho estimates and also the design whero necessary and checking tho size of pipes required. In my recent letter to you the estim-

ates given relate to 9in. supply main —which was tlio sizo originally proposed. This sizo of main limited tho pressuro for lirc-fighting to some extent, and I find in going back through tho file that a lOin. main was desired in order to give adoquato firo-fighting capacity. This was overlooked in ray recent letter and therefore the estimates therein given are not on the same basis as the present ones. While tho supply main 9in. diameter would serve 1 believe tho larger sizo would give greater satisfaction and should be adopted. Tho difference in cost is in tho order of £3OO. Mr. Toogood stated that it was on