RESTRICTIONS LIFTED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19891, 9 March 1928, Page 8

RESTRICTIONS LIFTED.

CITY WATER SUPPLY.

EFFECT OF RECENT RAiN.

LARGE GAIN IN RESERVOIRS.

GUARDING AGAINST WASTE. Restrictions on the use of water from the city mains were lifted by the Water Committee of the City Council last evening, after having been in force since December 14.

The waterworks superintendent, Mr. G. Carr, reported to the committee that at 7 o'clock yesterday morning there were 464,000,000 gallons of water in store in the three reservoirs in the Waitakere ranges, the total representing a gain of 241,000,000 gallons since 7 a.m. on Monday. In the Waitakere data there was a depth of 41ft. 7in., equal to a volume of 140,000,000 gallons. The Nihotupu main dam was at the 75ft. 7in. mark, the water in store being 255,000,000 gallons. In the auxiliary dam the depth was 30ft., equal to, 69,000,000 gallons. Mr. Carr said the depth of water over the weir had dropped 13in. to sin. during the 24 hours, and the level was decreasing rapidly. The run-off of water from the catchment area was just about finished, and no further gain in storage could be expected from the rain at the beginning of the week. Western Springs Supply.

The position with regard to the supply of water to the city had improved sufficiently to warrant his recommending that the restrictions on consumption should be removed, and that pumping from the Western Springs should stop. The removal of the restrictions did not mean that there was an unlimited supply of water, and consumers should be advised that while there was plenty of water to meet all legitimate demands it was still necessary to prevent waste.

Mr. Garr added that at the Western Springs a chlorine gas plant had been installed on trial by the agents of the machine, and in order to give the apparatus a thorough trial he intended to continue pumping from the springs for two or three days more. The report was adopted by the committee without discussion. Tribute to Citizens.

Appreciation of the manner in which the restrictions had been observed was expressed by the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon. "The residents of the city, and also of the boroughs which draw water from the city, were splendid in the way in which they complied with the council's request that they should curtail the use of water," Mr. Baildon said. "We cordially appreciate their action in this respect. We were very glad to have the rain, although there was still sufficientvolume in store to enable us to carry on for some time without imposing any further restrictions. There is now no risk of further shortage, although it will still be necessary for citizens to guard against waste." Mr. Baildon added that he would like to thank also the local bodies concerned for the prompt response they made to the council's wish that they should cooperate in reducing consumption in the areas under their control.

History of the Shortage. The shortage of water first became apparent at the beginning of December, when there were almost daily reports of very heavy demands on the water in the reservoirs. On December 9, the pumping plant at Western Springs was brought into use to ease the draw-off on the dams in the hills, and five days later, when the consumption was still very heavy and there was no sign of rain, the first restrictions were imposed. These comprised the placing of a ban on the use of hoses for watering gardens and washing down motor-cars, on more than two days a week. The saving in consumption effected by this partial restriction was slight, and on December 23 it was decided to prohibit the use of hoses altogether. Later, the ban was extended to the use of watering cans, and last month the taps and shower-baths were removed from the beaches and swimming pools. Prior to the saving rain, the committee was considering ways and means of further reducing consumption and it was intended to restrict the use of hydraulic lifts.

CITY'S FUTURE POLICY. DEVELOPING HUNUA RESOURCES. The policy to be adopted in developing the water supply systems for Auckland was discussed by tho City .Council in committee last evening, when reports from the engineer, Mr. W. E. Bush, on the liunua ranges scheme, wero discussed. A question for discussion was whether the council should include the Hunua ranges scheme in its programme of water works, and whether work should be undertaken there before the lower Nihotupu scheme is put in hand. It is understood the committee will recommend the council to include the Hunua proposals in its policy, and that consideration of the suggestion that they should be given priority over the lower Nihotupu scheme was deferred. Two streams, the Mangatawhiri and the Mangatangi, provide the sources for the Hunua scheme. It was suggested to the council by Mr. Bush that tho Mangatawhiri should be the first developed in those ranges, the estimated cost being £1.600,000. For this amount, which was subject to detailed investigation, it was expected that a dam capable of storing 1,400,000,000 gallons could be constructed and the pipelines laid to the city.