THE CITY WATER SUPPLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17650, 10 December 1920, Page 6

THE CITY WATER SUPPLY.

The condemnation of the Western Springs water by the district health officer must .be taken virtually to mark the end of the springs as an auxiliary water supply for the city. The growth of population lias been steadily jeopardising this source, and its abandonment sooner or later was inevitable. It has been under suspicion for a considerable time, and though it is particularly unfortunate that it should be lost this summer, citizens, will much prefer to go short of water than to risk an epidemic. The temporary use of the Western Springs may still be found to be possible, but the public will expect the council to observe extraordinary precautions and to dispense with this supply if there remains the slightest doubt as to its purity. The prospects for the summer months are, under the circumstances, not reassuring. The auxiliary dam will not be completed till the middle of March, thus confirming, the Mayor's earlier forecast that it will be little use this summer. The full employment of the Nihotupu stream will not bring any substantial measure of relief, and it is obvious that the city cannot expect adequate reserves of water until the large impounding dam, is completed. The auxiliary dam will be a valuable insurance against drought next summer, but this season consumers will be largely dependent upon the summer rainfall. All things considered, the city will be -singularly fortunate if a full supply of water is available throughout the summer-