WATER FOR AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19608, 9 April 1927, Page 13

WATER FOR AUCKLAND.

CITY SUPPLY CRITICISED.

EVIDENCE OF AN ANALYST.

•'DANGER TO SCHOOL CHILDREN"

ADVANTAGE OF FILTRATION.

The opinion that water at present supplied by the Auckland City Council was dangerous for children to drink and liable to cause gastric trouble to adults was expressed before the Water Commission yesterday by Mr. A. J. Parker, consulting analyst. Mr. Parker said the financial value of a pure water supply was not recognised in Auckland or in the province as a whole. People were willing to regard the water as quite safe to use, and did not bother to make further inquiries. It was proved, however, that impure water, not necessarily containing infectious disease germs, was a danger to the community. In many parts of America citizens were valued at so much a head, and the body controlling water supplies was held responsible for their welfare to the extent of their value. While it was impossible to secure a water supply absolutely safe from a health viewpoint, it was not impracticable to do away with nearly all risk. Ten Samples ol Oiiy Water. Witness said he had had the water supplied by the City Council under observation for 16 years and had tested it frequently. It varied in charity a good deal according to the seasons. He produced about 10 samples of city water dating back to September, 1923, and ranging from a dark brown colour to practically none at all. The rain water which fell in the Waitakeres was crystal clear, and by means; cf filtration could be delivered in Auckland in that state. The discolouration was due to mineral sediment and decayed vegetation, the more serious fdrra of pollution from animal matter being absent. The watershed area was now strictly watched, and witness expressed the opinion that added care would fee necessary with the supervision of city reservoirs when the filtration plant was in' operation, to prevent local contamination.

On the other hand, whether the water .was Clear or not, harmful disease germs might be present, said Mr. Parker, and chemical investigation should not be over looked. Water such as supplied at present from the Waitakeres, although pronounced good from a bacteriological point of view, might nevertheless be very harmful. It was liable to cause gastric trouble.

"Danger to School Children."

Mr. Parker said that in his opinion the Auckland City Council water was at present to some extent a danger to school children, who wefe large consumers of it from school taps. In view of that alone a, - purification scheme was necessaiy. Through drinking such water physical resistance was lowered and people were liable to contract'any prevalent ailments. People had placed too much reliance on bacteriological water tests in recent years, in witness' opinion, as in many cases thiese tests did' not go far enough. They did not specify whether typhoid, cholera or other germs were present. As long as no disease germs were present, a few bacillus coli more or less made no difference. Everyone in the room possessed them in their systems and a few more would not matter. (Laughter.) .Germs were present m concrete patches, and filtration would thus prove to be about 95 per cent, efficient. The Lake Taupo Scheme. Referring to Lake Taupo water, Mr. Parker said the danger of typhoid injection through carelessness on the part of the Maoris was to be considered. The great typhoid epidemic in Lincoln, England, when thousands of people died, ■was traced to the infection of the water supply by one person. As far as a ■water board was concerned he felt that the City Council should not be supplanted. The ratepayers of Auckland had purchased a supply at a large cost, and they should conserve it for themselves. The consumption would no doubt increase in future years with the supply of clear water. There was no reason why outside locaJ, todies should not secure their own water, continued witness. Water f . rol f 4b ® ; Waikato. River was quite suitable H treated properly, and it would not be difficult to place pipes near- Mercer. !Aucklanders had a right over their own Eroperty, and while it behoved them to elp their neighbours, these latter should also be prepared to help themselves. I em satisfied the city water is going to fee all right, and there is nothing more to worry about," witness concluded. Mr. Rogerson: Do you agree to being loaded with capital charges by the City Council, necessitated by expansion of the ■water supply system for other local Iwdies ? Witness: Not unless there is a strong probability that they will come into the cityCost of the Taupo Scheme. Robert West Holmes, retired engineer-in-chief to the New Zealand Government, who was called by Mr. Johnstone, said the average annual rainfall in Auckland between 1853 and 1920 was 44in. It -was safe to infer that rainfall in the 'Waitaker© Ranges would be 50 per cent, greater during the period, and this was verified : n recent years by records kept. The actual rainfall in the Huia, Waitaiere and Nihotupu catchment areas would produce sufficient water to provide 240.000 persons, aliowing an average dailv conBumption of 50 gallons. In his opinion the pumping of water from the Waikato Itiver should in any case not be comjnenced until after the other Waitakere schemes were completed. The ten-mile tunnel to carry the pipeline from Lake Taupo, said Mr. Holmes, over the first stage, would have to be at least lift, wide at the base, with a central height of about 10ft. A railway would have to be run through it for subsequent repairs and access for inspection, while a drain would also be required. The tunnel would cost £BOO,OOO, and the whole scheme not less than £5,454.638. 'Access roads and a telephone system would also be necessary in connection ■with the pipeline. Witness added tnat he thought the' engineering works undertaken by the Auckland City Council in connection with the present water supplv ibad been correctly and well carried out. In reply to Mr. Roeerson witness said lie could see no ohiection to local hodtel- - to secure their own water supply. ' Although the City Council's sup ply was sound it might not be sat'sfac itorv to evervone TI7 . Thomas Walsh, a member of the Waiiemata Chamber of Commerce, said his %odv favoured a water scheme which would give an assured supply. The Nort Shore was heavilv rated at present, and bo scheme which would increase rates tjrorild he welcomed. _ The commission adiourned until April ©B.