TAKE TAKAPUNA WATER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18364, 3 April 1923, Page 8

TAKE TAKAPUNA WATER.

Sir, — was very interested in the Herald's article on Takapuna water in Saturday's Herald, but I should like to question one statement, namely, "that they must, sooner or later, abandon Lake Takapuna, set about as it is with habitations, cannot be doubted." ; I think _ it is open to much doubt and serious consideration. It must be remembered that the fields that are farthest '■' away always appeal to us as the greenest. Takapuna may be quite satisfactory if ,-;; it is handled rightly. Remember, the Auckland water is taken from a bus"a catchment area, which looks all right, but Auckland has its water troubles, too. :■;? Providing that sea water; can be kept out of the lake", there is no reason whatever why the • water should not be , handed out to the citizens perfectly pure, bright and satisfactory, because modern methods of sterilisation * are available. or i such k waters. I have been engaged on waters for some 25 years;; and a great many samples have -,-. passed ' through my hands. ■&■ Naturally I am - interested in < such questions. I have just recently returned » from 18 \ months' residence' in the United States; where water problems i are many, and • one of the .water systems that I _ inspected i is '.'. very ■. suggestive in .: connection with • Takapuna supplies. I refer; to St; Louis, which is a large manufacturing city, situated on ;■■' the; Mississippi;River,.which at this point is > ; a ' wide,. s dirty, brown-coloured river, * "which looks too dirty even ; for <bath/ ing, much- less drinking. Shipping uses the river, swamps; drain into it, and altogether it looks' the last v - resort for a water supply. ; However, it, is the water supply fof ; r the million i population of St. ■■') Louis: and ; many other millions ; ; of people : along its i banks.:; . St. Louis alone takes out every day no less than 160,000,000 ' gallons for its town .water . supply. This water :is so dirty that . the : first treatment is : through"/a precipitating system, which ;;. is : most i efficient, , and j eliminates the gross dirt. - From that j point the water passes on to &{ chlorination plant; t and Ito ; sand ..filters, find : the final product is a beautiful, clear, tasty * water on ' which the people l thrive. Daily 120,000,000 gallons lof ; this ;•: clear, v purified i. Mississippi 5 water ;': are i :-.: used -V by 7 the ;t St. : Louisans, ~t; and : 600,000,000 gallons; are kept in; stock ready for use. This city is noted for its health; '■:) record, much 'of 1 its ; position being ,due ■ to' water olid pasteurised milk. The citizens are interested >in ; such matters, ' and { they are willing to pay for health. My ; statere- ments are ?; from i actual; inspection arid investigation \on the \ waterworks itself,,: and if I were ■ a St. i, Louisan, I should ■be proud of such a beautiful water system. ■ With these facts in .mind, why should Takapuna not use its lake? It is simply a /.matter; of clearing up the area arid; doing the necessary: things which are known to ,; the; various * authorities, and V? tha water can be safe and 'pleasant for all time. In smy opinion the; question of drinking water does not receive sufficient attention from -! the > various civic controllers;'.' there teems y to' be a /tendency \, to 1 put off doing things » until ; the supplies '■'. get doubtful, when such ; matters can t>. be easily anticipated anrl X dealt with sooner. ,;■ Ai,f. J. Parker, F.C.S., Etc.