WATER FOR AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18761, 15 July 1924, Page 8

WATER FOR AUCKLAND.

f NEEDS 0? THE SUBURBS.

HEALTH ©FFFCfcR'3 PROPOSAL

ONE SUPPLY AUTHORITY,

A METROPOLITAN BOARD.

The growing difficulties of the various local bodies on the fringe of the city area in maintaining an adequate and pure supply of -water for their steadily increasing population is receiving the attention of the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. T. J. Hugbes, who is about to suggest to these authorities that they should consider the advisability of forming a water board to serve the whole metropolitan district. The board would probably bo constituted on the lines of ths Auckland Electric Power Board, with representation according to the area and population to be served.

Tba Auckland City Council has been able to establish an adequate supply for its wide area, and also supplies Newmarket, Mount Eden, Tamaki, Avondale, New Lynn, Mount Albert and Mount RoskilL Other local authorities a?e faced with serious difficulties. They are dependent on sources from which the water must be chemically sterilised, and of such limited capacity that they will soon be inadequate. The problem is pressing in districts on both sides of the harbour.

The health officer has taken part in many discussions of this subject, and has on many occasions revived the interest of local authorities in the search for more satisfactory supplies. Ho is convinced that the most hopeful measure would be for all the districts in difficulties about water supplies to pool their troubles and join together in escaping from them. Tentative proposals in this dinction are now being made by Dr. Hughes to the local bodie;3 concerned.

It has been suggested in some quarters that in the formation of the board, steps should be taken to enlist the co-operation of the City Council, with a view to Each a development of its own programme that sufficient water would bo available to supply the whole metropolitan area, inclnding North Shore. The obvious outcome of this would be that the proposed board would take over the city water department's reservoirs and pipe lines, and proceed to supply the larger area in tho same manner as the power board has taken over the city's electricity business in tho interests of the larger community. It is apparent, however, that such a board must start with a larger outlook in view of the relatively restricted water supply near at hand. The present storage capacity in the Waitikere Kills is 820 million gallons and a dam in the Upper Hnia watershed will give an additional 500 million gallons. Even with the bringing in of the Hnia water, it is estimated that the supply ■will be sufficient for the needs of the city and its present consumexs for not more than the next 15 years, after which it will be necessary to look much further afield for a source of supply, and Taupo has received the most consideration as an alternative. Should the proposed board desire to supply additional outside bodies this would make it necessary to consider the Taupo project long before the expiry of the 15 years' period. , Dr. Hughes has made it clear that he is looking to the future and anticipating the hopeless position facing the outer districts if a comprehensive ,scheme is not undertaken. Some years would .be occupied in formulating and completing a scheme to bring water supplies from Taupo or the Walkato, and he feels that the local bodies concerned might well begin to eonsider any steps which might bring a s'dution to their present difficulties and the inevitable problems of the future in the matter of water supply.