CITY WATER SUPPLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13602, 22 November 1907, Page 6

CITY WATER SUPPLY.

A VISIT TO WMTAKEItEL

STORAGE OF 230,000,000 GALLONS.

YKsrKitOAY the City Council paid a visit of inspection to the works in connection with the extension of the, water, supply scheme at the Waitakcrei Palis, leaving town at an early hour in drags. There were present: The Major (Mr. A. M. Myers), and Messrs. L. J. Bagnall, M. Casey, 11. Tudebope, A. E. Glover, W. O. Somers r A. J. Entricau, P.M. Mackay. H. M. Stacoton, 0. J. Parr, W. E. Hutchison, and J. Court (members of the Council), 'and the ' city tixecutivo officials. The route taken followed the pipe line to the foot of the hills in tiie Henderson Valley, where the conveyances were left, and the track up the hills was negotiated en foot.

The work at the break pressure reservoir was found to ba progressing well, and the quality of the metal used in the concrete work came in for special comment on account of its excellence. This metal is obtained from a quarry on the Council's land in the water conservation area! The contractors, Messrs. Cairns and Holt, anticipate being able to finish the concrete wall of the break pressure reservoir within three weeks, and to have the roofing and other details of the contract completed about the end of January. After lunch at this stage of the journey the party boarded the tramway trucks and proceeded through the tunnel*; and around tho line to the falls, the site- of the big storage- reservoir, where the contractor, Mr. T. Billington, has a gang of men hard at work excavating for the foundations of tho reservoir wall just abovo the Waterfall. Another gang of men is also engaged in extending the tramway down to Swanson railway station to facilitate the carriage of cement, etc., up to the reservoir site, and a breaker is in course of erection at the quarry. Work oil the contract was found to be progressing satisfactorilj'. The area of Use reservoir was inspected, and a great change was noted since the Council's last visit, the whole of the area having been cleared of vegetation. This clearing and excavating work accounts for the. somewhat discoloured state of the water on recent occasions. The site of the upper dam was also visited, and it was found that the excavations had been completed for the erection of the timber wall. As all the material is on the ground it is expected that this work, which is being done by day labour, will bo finished by January. It was stated to the members of the Council present that recent levels taken showed that the capacity of the main reservoir was 180,000,000 gallons, and that of the upper reservoir 50,000,000 gallons. The consumption of water now 'is about 3,000,000 gallons a day, and the two reservoirs give a storage of 230,000,000 gallons, which is equal to over 70 days' % supply, irrespective of tho running water, and irrespective of the Nihotupu water supply. The party returned to town about five p.m., and in referring to the journey the Mayor said at the Council meeting last evening that the members were much gratified at what they had seen. It was quite evident that the break pressure reservoir would bo finished by the end of Januarv, and it was likely that the upper dam would bo finished in about two months, while the large reservoii should be completed in about 18 months' time. . It was evident that the action of the Council in adopting the report, of the engineers, Messrs. Carlaw and Wilsn, was a wise step, and the work was of a satisfactory character. Those in charge of the works were seeing that operations were carried out with despatch. The citizens of Auckland had every reason to congratulate themselves upon possessing such an eminently satisfactory water scheme. Tho water . impounded by tho reservoirs would ho over a three months' supply, and the purity, of the Waitakerci water was, also cause for congratulation. Tho citizens would bo pleased' to know that the Council had returned well pleased with the whole scheme. .'.•'...