RODING WATER SCHEME

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 25 October 1940, Page 4

RODING WATER SCHEME

NEW SUPPLY PROBABLE BY FEBRUARY NELSON AERODROME SERVICE CONSUMERS ALONG PIPELINE IN COUNTY ABBA “The Roding water tunnel is within a few feet of completion, and will be pierced any time now. Although I would not give an undertaking to the effect at this stage, it is probable that the city will be getting water from the new source by next February,” said the City Engineer (Mr C. I. Kidson) at last night’s meeting of the Nelson City Council during a discussion on the supply of water to the Nelson Aerodrome and to consumers in the Waimea County area along the main pipeline from Stoke.

The engineer said that there would be about three months’ trimming work in the tunnel, but a pipe-laying programme could be arranged so that that work could be carried out about as fast as the trimming. The Waimea County Council wrote setting out the conditions under which it agreed to a suppy of water being given to consumers within the county and to the aerodrome.

The engineer said he considered the council should if possible give residents along the pipeline a service for domestic purposes. It would be of great convenience to those people and would produce revenue. All such services were restricted to domestic supply through tanks or meter. In connection with the supply to the aerodrome, Mr Kidson' explained that the reticulation from the main pipeline was being carried out by the Public Works Department via Quarantine road and extending along Bolt road where the mains would be 6 inch. The Department required a flow of 400 gallons per minute at the aerodrome for fire fighting purposes, with 1001 b per square inch pressure. In connection with the supply of water, the Public Works Department had given permission for the overflow from the Mental Hospital dam in Poorman’s Valley to be led direct into the pipeline at the Poorman’s Valley end of the tunnel, if necessary.

The proposed arrangements with the Waimea County Council were approved, and the engineer was authorised to provide services to county consumers providing the city supply was not endangered. MONTHLY REPORT ON PROGRESS OF WORK The engineer’s monthy report on the progress of the Roding scheme was as follows: —

“The dam at the Roding river has suffered no damage during the winter months, and work is once again in hand. Reticulation work in Grove street is completed, and the 4 inch main is being laid in Kawai street. The main pipeline is completed as far as the abattoir from the town side and to the main road from Poorman’s Valley. “Some considerable difficulty has been experienced in getting the correct type of jointing material for this pipeline, and in consequence considerable delay has been occasioned. In the interests of bolh the ratepayers and contractors a rigorous set of acceptance conditions is applied to this work, but satisfactory tests are now being obtained, and it is expected to cover up the pipeline laid within a fortnight’s time.

“The tunnel at the Roding is within a few feet of completion, but a very heavy flow of water was experienced when the faces were only 37 feet apart. This has delayed the work for approximately one week, as there were considerable falls of rock at the face. The tunnel should be pierced about the end of the month.” Mr Kidson added that the whole scheme was going ahead according to schedule, and the contract was well ahead of the time allowed.