Borough Water Main

Northern Advocate, 26 June 1946, Page 5

Borough Water Main

‘The letter in yesterday’s paper under the signature of ‘Ratepayer’ is misleading and obviously was written without due inquiries being made regarding the necessity for the proposed new main,'’ said the chairman cf the Whangarei Borough Council Waterworks Committee (Mr J. F. Johnson).

To ‘‘allay any suspicions that might arise in the minds of the uninformed” Mr Johnson made the following statement:— ‘‘The main has been contemplated for some time to overcome the extra water requirements necessitated by the enormous amount of property subdivisions at the top end of the town. Present mains are hopelessly inadequate, and. in order to cope with this, a nine-inch main is necessary from the reservoir, feeding back t 0 the ton of Mill Road. “In the meantime, as it is found necessary to use I-latea water temporarily until the ratepayers give us a decision on several schemes that will shortly be placed before them, it is intended to divert Hatea water direct to Whau Valley reservoir and so give it a longer period of chlorination contact and. incidentally, less amount of chlorination and a fair distribution of Hatea water over the borough. ‘‘The main will be required in any case, and is a necessary portion of the general reticulation of the north end of the town. OUT OF REVENUE

“The council has no idea of giving Maunu water away -in preference to Hatea and the suggested water for Wilsons Cement Company is being investigated from a different direction altogether. Regarding the application of the Health Department, this would be a saving to the ratepayers of the cost of the poll, and it must be borne in mind that the waterworks committee has the power to instal this without any reference to ratepayers whatever. But, if it can be done by way of loan, the cost in the way of interest and sinking fund can be met out of waterworks revenue, without having to add approximately Id to the general rate, as would be necessary if the loan was not sanctioned.”