THE WATER SUPPLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18577, 8 December 1923, Page 10

THE WATER SUPPLY.

In considering the Mayor's statement concerning the city's water supply and the steps to be taken to cope with the shortage that has suddenly appeared, due credit must be given to the City Council for its past activity and future policy. It has done big things., An ample supply of excellent quality has been obtained in the Waitakere hills, and the project of using an extended watershed, providing eventually for a supply in excess of the city'; present need, is proof of an enlightened regard for prospective requirements. But the prohibition of 'hi use of garden hoses, assuming that the present shortage is due to wasteful resort to these during ;he prevailing dry' weather, is a to? ether too arbitrary and drastic a oof/isure. The city's by-laws jprovidi for the use of these by permission properly got and paid for, and fuj tber provide that in every such cas j the hose shall be held in the hand There is an obligation on the authorities to see that this by-law is observed: and it appears that they have not been sufficiently alert to notify and enforce the restriction. ..t is neither just nor reasonable, therefore, that because some people have not observed the by-law all should now be deprived of a service foy which they have paid. The Council has entered into a contract, and before violating others' rights should woe that its own duties are fulfill;.*. Careless householders should "ii'st be dealt with under rights cf: surveillance which the Council possesses. Probably it will be found that many householders have not been aware of the terms of the by-law, and that they will gladly abide by \\lie restriction when it is properly notified. But there is an aspect of the situation that reflects more seriously upon the Council. The city's need is growing faster than the authorities have hitherto made provision to meet it. If it be necessary, as Mr. Gunson's statement implies, to curtail seriously the use of water in these weeks before the condition? of summer have fully arrived, then there has been an inadequate waterworks programme. There should have been a wiser anticipation of the city's need for water, and mains should have been laid down long ere this to meet the necessity- It is poor consolation for a city requiring eight million gallons of water daily, and unable to get it because the mains are too small, to be told that there is abundance in the city's reservoir away in the hills, and that someday there will be a conduit bringing in eleven million gallons a day.