CITY'S WATER SUPPLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20820, 12 March 1931, Page 13

CITY'S WATER SUPPLY.

SHORTAGE NOT POSSIBLE.

ALL DAMS WELL STOCKED. POSITION AT NORTH SHORE. Although the usual seasonal decline has been experienced in the water reservoirs in the Waitakere Ranges the quantity of water at present in store is regarded as very satisfactory. Mr. A. D. Mead, Auckland City waterworks engineer, stated yesterday that the largest reservoir, the new Huia dam, was completely filled, there being 536,000,000 gallons in store. The Nihotupu dam, with a capacity of 520,000,000 gallons, now contained 322,000,000 gallons, while the Waitakere dam contained 325,000,000 gallons, 119,000,000 gallons less than the maximum quantity that could bo stored. The fourth reservoir, the Nihotupu auxiliary dam, was also in a good position, being completely filled with 70,000,000 gallons.

At tho commencement of summer all the dams were practically full, a gradual decline in tho quantity of water in storage starting early in December and continuing throughout the season- The rainfall in tho Waitakeres has been fairly well maintained, an averago of 6in. being recorded in November, 2.45 in. in December, 7.65 in. in January and 3.40 in. last month. Even should the dry spell continue there is no possibility of a shorLage in tho water supply of the city.

Lake Pupuke, the solo source of water supply for the boroughs of the North Shore, has receded to a depth of 15in. below sea level, at high water mark. Since November, 1917, when the lake was at its highest, being over 12ft. above the present level, a gradual fall of the water throughout each year has resulted, until now a large area of reclaimed land has been added to tho various properties which run to tho edge of the water. At the Devonport and Birkenhead pumping stations the extent of the fall in the water level is clearly shown by the water marks on the wooden structures built for the purpose of supporting the intake pipe-line, and also by the old gravitation intake nozzles, which may be seen standing clear of the water. The lake is approximately 250 acres in area and is nearly 400 ft. deep at its deepest point. It is estimated that an ample supply of water will be available to the boroughs for a further 15 to 20 years, and that then other supplies will have to be brought iijto action to meet the needs of the growing population.