CITY'S WATER SUPPLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19860, 2 February 1928, Page 14

CITY'S WATER SUPPLY.

UPPER NIHOTUPU DAM. MR W. H. MURRAY'S ALLEGATIONS Criticism of the present state of the upper Nihotupu dam is made by Mr. W. H. Murray, a member of the Auckland City Council. Mr. Murray writes:—"'A party of, 40 'mayoralty' permitted excursionists were officially shown the uninviting waters within the lower Nihotupu dam on Thursday last. As the courtesy of an invitation to meet the members of local bodies in that party was not extended to me from the Town Hall, I, as a city councillor, ask someone of tho party publicly to state whether the party was permitted to inspect the upper Nihotupu dam and swamp watershed. On Saturday last two city ratepayers were separately refused a permit by the actingtown clerk, by order of the Mayor. "Accordingly, I, as a councillor, traversed on Sunday last tho dry parts of the bottom of the upper Nihotupu dam, which discloses acres of swamp, morass and mud bottom now exposed to view with its wealth ot decaying vegetable matter fes tering beneath the sun's burning rays. The odour arising from the conglomerate was most objectionable, and such liquid as was slowly trickling or oozing from the greasy puddles damward was pun gently noisome and obnoxious. The effluvia emanating from the sodden, rotting sawdust, through which swampy water redolent of wood oil percolates toward the outlet, was abominably vile. "I filled several sample bottles of this so-called potable eau-de-vie compot, which is now on exhibition in the window of a Queen Street chemist's shop. The area from which these samples were taken is the collecting pond from which the lower Nihotupu is at present drawing tho whole of its supply to the city. The water in that pond has fallen 9ft. 6in. since the 7tb inst. The aroma from the swampy bed and potholes of these dammed acres ascend in protest toward high heaven. I am prepared to accompany any interested citizen to this so that they may se», mark, learn and inwardly digest' this effluent." Replying to Mr. Murray's assertions, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, chairman of the W T ater Committee of the City Council, said yesterday that, as the result of an inquiry by the North Shore boroughs as to a suitable water supply, a request for representatives to be allowed to visit the Waitakere watershed was made co the committee and was readily acceded to. "The position as far as the city supply is concerned is thoroughly satisfactory, and the public can be assured that there is no danger from the dams and no danger from the water," added Mr. Allum. "The supply to-day is pure, and contains neither bacteria nor matter in suspension. The committee, in its desire to keep the water pure, has Uie advice, not only of its permanent staff, but also of the bacteriological staff of the Auckland Hospital."