OUR WATER SUPPLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11057, 8 May 1899, Page 5

OUR WATER SUPPLY.

THE SURROUNDINGS OF THE SPRINGS. A CITY INSPECTION. J The recent report of Dr. R. H. Makgill on . ■ the city water supply and its connection with I the prevalence of typhoid is likely to lead to j active steps being taken to as far as possible . ; preserve the Western Springs against conj lamination. The analyses (chemical and ; bacteriological) ordered by the City Council I have not.yot been concluded, but on behalf j of tho Council tho convener of the Water Committee (Mr. A. Kidd) and the Mayor (Mr. U. Uoldie) have- conferred with the chairmen of tho suburban road boards, and visited the catchment area of -he Western Springs, with the view of step, feeing taken to prevent the flow of contaminated matter into tho pond at tho springs. At the conferenca tho representatives of the City Council found the chairmen of the road boards 111 perfect agreement with them, that it is necessary, in the interests of those who are consuming the city water, to take active steps to keep the water in the ponds as pure as possible. Some doubt existed, however, as to the powers of the road boards to prevent the contaminating matter from being deposited in the vicinity of the springs, and the meeting was adjourned so that the legal position may be defined, and the exact powers of the suburban boards under the existing Acts defined. Should those powors bo insufficient an appeal will probably be made to the Centra Board of Health for the colony in Wellington, and if this fails to bring the required assistance tho City Council will be advised to ask the Government to brm S in a Bill enabling tho Auckland I City Council to protect the whole of the catchment area, extending from Lake St. John to the Mauukau, and to the dividing ranges overlooking the Manuka,, Harbour This would include all the scoria land in the vicinity of tho springs, and if the City Council were once in a position to prevent verylung in the shape of piggeries and slaughterhouses on this area, and to compel the systematic removal of sewage matter from the houses on the high levels, it is felt that the purity of the city water would bo secured. the visitation of the catchment area of the springs took place on Saturday afternoon. I Mr. kidil and the Mayor were accompanied j by Dr. king, the city health officer, and tho party were guided by tho inspector of nuisances for the Mount Eden district. The visitors inspected the Western Springs, and 0,71 .hat th,, recent rainfall had made an appreciable difference in the state of the pond. The abattoirs were found in a cleanly condition, but m their travels over tho district the visitors came across quite a number of piggeries, winch must be a source of conlamination. Ih„ result of (lie visit will bo reported to a mooting with tho chairmen of the road boards, to bo hold at an early date who,, the powers possessed by those bodies to deal with tho piggeries will be clearly denned. • ' THE ONEHUN'GA SPRINGS.

ANALYSIS OP THE WATER. It will ho satisfactory aliko to iho residents of Auckland and Onelmnga 1" know that steps have been taken to prove tho purity of u , springs at Onelmnga, from which Auckland will shortly bo deriving an auxiliary supply. At a special inkling .if th o Onuhunga Borough Council, held on Silurdaj evening. Hi, Worship the Mayor (Or. \\. It. Clow-Knon) in the chair, the following report on tlu local water supply was received lrom Dr. Makgill:I May 0, 1899. To the Mayor of Onolmnga. I hii.-.U yifir request, 1 accompanied von to i the pumping stat'on spring, and there took . in a sterilised bottle a sample of the water arising ihcivfroni. 1 took a second sample 0 iho water lrom a domestic supply pipe at ihe Council Chambers. As a result of my bacteriological and microscopic examina- . tion of these samples. 1 have no hesitation in saying thai tins water is of a satisfactory character. This source may, therefore, i lie relied upon as a potable water, provided I that the sti'itary conditions necessary to all , Public supplies lie scrupulously maintained — ■ I am, etc.. p. H. JTAKGILL, J1.8.C'.i1., Hon. • Pathologist Auckland Hospital, i Tho Mayor, in commenting on the residt, said it most bo highly satisfactory to both the Council and tin, residents of Onolmnga to '■ know I hat at tho present timo, when tho question of the purity of tho miter was so agitating the minds of Auckland citizens, tho OnoI 1111*1 supply had stood tho highest tests ; known to science •On seeing the report by Dr. Mj.kgiU on tho water from the- Wostern | Springs, ho had deemed it his duly to take 1 some action in Onelmnga, and as they would ' probably shortly be selling an auxiliary suplily to Auckland, hit thought it only ridit that the author of the report on Auckland's ; supply should bo given an opportunity of i I examining the article they (the local Council)

I hail to sell. Auckland had a ng:it to a guar I antco of its purity. Tho result Uioy saw hafora i "}"'"-. ' V .\ w water had been examined bnctonologieally and microscopically and camo Urough the ordeal with flying colours. With the result in their hands their plain duty next was to preserve the purity of their springs, and one of tho first essentials was drainage. With the revenue to bo obtained from the city, ami their present water rate, that was not so far distant, and the borough would shortly have to take that matter In hand. He had heard that ft syndicate had purchased 50 acres of land at Penrose, with tho intention of establishing aaleyards, and, possibly abattoirs. Tho former there could be no objection to, but the latter, as contiguous to the water supply of a largo and ever-increasing populace, must bo strenuously resisted as a direct menace to the public health, owing to the volcanic nnluro of tho soil. They had mad the disclosures as to what had taken place in tho catchment area of tho Western Springs, and such must l>o guarded against with their springs, Ho wits not only looking at tho present, but for tho sake of future gent-rations he thought a contral board of health, consisting of tho local authorities of Auckland, Onohunga, and tho surrounding road hoards should ho formed, who should appoint a compotont medical officer, whoso duty it should bo to periodically oxamino the water by the latest, known tots, inspect the sources of supply, and report to tho hoard of health on the establishment of any industry which was likely to ho inimical to the purity of tho water— such industry to be allowed to be carried on without a lioonso from tho board. He might say that all necessary sanitary precautions wore boing insisted on in tho borough. Mr. Shaldrick moved, " That tho action of the Mayor in obtaining tho report bo approved, and that tho thanks of tho Council lie tendered to him." 111. Fleming seconded, and on his suggestion, it was decided that a copy of the report bo forwarded to the press for publication, and also to tho City Council.