THE WATER WE DRINK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13286, 19 September 1906, Page 7

THE WATER WE DRINK.

UNCOMPLIMENTARY REFERENCE TO PONSONBY RESERVOIR.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—SFKCUL correspondent.]

Wellington, Tuesday. The following reference to the Ponsonby Reservoir appeals in Dr. Frengley's annual report presented to Parliament to-day: -The junction of Karangahape, Ponsonby, Newton, and Great North Roads is a very busy centre, and much traffic passes to and' fro. At one corner is the reservoir, from which the. greater, part of the city is supplied. Galvaaiised iron roofing exists over each chamber of the reservoir. The roofs are low, and readily collect all the dust and desiccated street sweepings wafted up from the street. When nature's rain falls, by the ingenuity of man the spouting lias been so arranged that all the watery "extracts" from the tilth collected' on the roof passes into the drinking water of the citizens. One would have thought that, as theie was no denying the facts, the Council would have at once ordered an effective remedy, but not so. My report was received with jocosity and gibes, and much valuable time was lost in obtaining analyses which at the most could only prove that what was admitted passed into the water was actuallv there.