DEFICIENT WATER SUPPLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18889, 11 December 1924, Page 11

DEFICIENT WATER SUPPLY.

RESIDENTIAL AREAS' PLIGHT.

SUPERINTENDENT'S WARNING.

The inadequacy of the water supply in many suburban arens was emphasised yesterday by the superintendent of the Auckland Firo Brigade, Mr. W. L. Wilson. He said the ou'.break at Ponsonby could be taken as a test for a grave warning as to what might' easily happen in the residential areas owing to insufficient water supply,, For a time there had been a great risk of the flames spreading owing to tho shortness of water available. It was only the efforts of the brigade and the fortunate fact that there was a vacant section opposite, that enabled the flames to be confined to the three houses already alight when the brigade arrived.

The mains in Waitemata Street wore only 4in., and this gave a very poor volume. .Moreover, the level was such that the pressure '»vas low. This defect was emphasised because the main ran to a dead end, so that the flow was only in one direction. Such handicaps on efficient fire-fighting were common U> many other residential sttoets. In this district t>ie supply came from the Ponsonby reservoir, out the pressure was increased on alarm of fire by sending a message to tho valve house to connect with the Khyber Pass reservoir. But it took five minutes for the extra supply and pressure to become available, and those minutes meant everything in checking the rapid spread of a fire. At Ponsonby yesterday morning, there was only sufficient water for one lead, ami it was found necessary to distribute thin through two small nozzles. As soon as tho extra supply was available a third lead was run out, but e;.ch of tho three then in action was insufficiently supplied. "A 4in. mair, is totally inadequate to deal with a large fire such as we had to combat/' concluded Mr. Wilson. "There is not sufficient volume or pressure, and this may yet k;ad to serious trouble in areas thickly built with wooden houses." ►Spectators at the fire gave the brigade great credit for tie nmart manner in which it checked the outbreak. The flames had almost a strangle-hold, and swept all approaches with furnace heat. Nevertheless the brigade confined the fire to its original hold, despite the obvious inadequacy of tho water supply.