SILT IN WATER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 6 October 1942, Page 4

SILT IN WATER

CAUSED BY HEAVY DRAW-OIF For the purpose of ascertaining the ! adequacy of the city water supply for lire fighting at a time coinciding with the maximum draw-off by residents filling baths, washtubs and other receptacles against an emergency, the City Engineer’s department and the Fire Brigade carried out tests. Many residents found that the water drawn off for that purpose contained a quantity of silt and dirty water came out of the taps later in the evening after the trial. The heavy deposit of silt left in baths in some parts of the city gave housewives an additional cleaning job this morning. One resident reported that nearly half an inch of silt had settled in the bottom of the bath. EN GIN EER’S EX PL A N ATI O X The acting-City Engineer, Mr L. I Robertson, stated to-day that the sud- j den heavy draw-off of water disturbed sediment in the pipes which normally . would remain undisturbed. He added j that it must have been the greatest j simultaneous draw-off' of water ever j experienced in the city. INSUFFICIENT WATER FOR FIRE FIGHTING Superintendent A. J. Drummond, of the Nelson Fire Brigade, said that the heavy draw-off of water after the the alarm considerably reduced the pressure in the mains and produced conditions under which it would have been difficult to deal with fires.