CITY WATER SUPPLY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21289, 16 September 1932, Page 13

CITY WATER SUPPLY

NEXT STAGE DECIDED LOWER NIHOTUPU DAM . OUTSIDE LOCAL BODIES CONTRACTS TO 1950 REQUIRED The Lower Nihotupu pumping scheme was adopted by the City Council last evening at a special meeting as the next stage ■n the development of the city's water supply system. The council also decided, in order to determine the date of starting construction, to ask outside local bodies now supplied with water to state their requirements until 1950, failing which provision would not be made for them. The matter was dealt with upon a recommendation by the water committee in December last that the Lower Nihotupu pumping scheme should be the next step in the city's water development* and that tho engineers be instructed to prepare tho necessary plans with a view to the probability of a commencement of the work in 1937. Consideration of this.had been deferred until after the engineers had addressed the council upon the water supplies of the city. The Mayor, Sir. G. W. Hutchison, moved that the committee's recommendation be adopted and, further, that, with a view to determining the date when the Lower Nihotupu scheme should be commenced, the outside local bodies drawing water supplies from the city be requested to submit estimates of their requirements to tho year 1950, and that provision be made only for such local bodies as were prepared to contract with the council for supplies t'o that date. Authorities in Favour Speaking to his motion, the Mayor said ihat the former city engineer, Sir. W. E. Bush, had recommended that the Lower Nihotupu scheme should be the next step in water supply development. The same view had been expressed by the Royal Commission of 1927 and by Sir. H. H. Dare, water supply engineer, of Sydney, who had reported*in 1928. The proposal was now endorsed by the city engineer, Sir. J. Tyler, and the waterworks engineer, Sir. A. D. Slead. To date the council had expended £636 upon boring and surveys in preparation for the scheme. It had acquired 1076 acres of catchment area, at a cost of £15,900, and only a further 10 acres required to be purchased to complete the necessary watershed. There would be no need to erect a further filter plant, as the' additional supply could be dealt with by installing a few more filter beds at the present Nihotupu plant. Sir. Bush's estimate for the cost of the dam was £362,000. Tnis figure was accepted tentatively by the present engineers, as no estimate had been made in the interim. However, it was probable that the cost to-day would be considerably lower. If a loan were raised now in London the council would obtain an extra £36,000 at the current irate of exchange, but it was impossible to say what the rate would be a few years hence. More Costly Proposals The new headworks would be capable of supplying an additional 6,000,000 gallons a day, but after the draw-off reached 3,000,000 gallons a day it would be necessary to lay down an extra pipe-line at a cost of £i20,000. bringing the total estimated cost to £482,000. There were three other proposals. The Lower Huia pumping scheme, which had been regarded as a work to be undertaken at some later stage, was estimated to cost £750,000, including pipe-lines, and would supply 8.000.000 gallons a day. In the Hunua Ranges the council had bought land and spent money upon engineering investigations. The first stage of the Slangatangi .scheme in that region was put down at £1,231,000, and would yield 10.000,000 gallons a day. The Lower Waikato scheme was estimated to cost £1,162,000 for a similar supply. The Lower Nihotupu scheme, which was thus the most economical of the four, would meet requirements, at the present rate of increase, until 1950. There were no two minds on the question whether it should be undertaken next. With the present works, the city would not require to draw on new supplies for the next nine years. It would not be necessary to start construction for four years. No extra staff would need to be engaged for the preparation of plans for the next two years; the present . office staff of the city engineer's department could carry on the work meanwhile. All that was required of the council at pre* ent was that it should adopt a definite policy for the engineers to act upon. Possible Water Board Sir. A. J. Entrican, in seconding the motion, said it was fair to ask the outside bodies to make definite contracts for the future, and to let them know that unless they fell in with the proposal the council would not need to extend its supplies for a number of years. The council did not want to repeat the experience it had had with the Slount Roskill Road Board, which, after £SOO had been spent in providing it with a proper -supply, had gone elsewhere without giving even a month's notice. Sir. T. ]3loodworth commended the latter part of the Slayor's motion on the ground' that it was a step toward the formation of a metropolitan water board to take over the present and future supplies. Sleanwhile, the outside bodies who drew upon the city supply should bo made f.o take a definite share of the responsibility. The Slayor said the principle of a metropolitan water board undoubtedly, had merit in it. "If the proposed combined drainage and water board were prepared to repay the city all the money it had invested in its water supply, i would say the offer should be accepted," he continued. "But no board would make

such an offer, because the city has invested in its water services about £500,000 of revenue moneys, and on- this no interest charge is made against the water account. If the board took over this liability it would have to find about £1,800,000 altogether, and it would have to put up the price of water." Mr. D. Donaldson: Has that point ever been put up to the outside bodies ? (Laughter.) The flavor: If the water board took over it would be a "walk in, walk out" arrangement. We had one arrangement of that kind when the Transport Board was formed, and I can assure you that I am not going to be a. party to another while I am in office. The motion was carried. ADDRESS TO BUSINESS MEN SOURCE OF CITY SUPPLIES A review of the City Council's watersupply services was given by Mr. G. Grey Campbell, chairman of the Public _ Services Committee of the City Council, in an address at the Chamber of Commerce lunchebn yesterday. The president of the chamber, Mr. A. M. Seaman, presided over the gathering, which was held in the Milne' and Choyce Reception Hall. The Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, and the city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, were present. Mr. Campbell traced the past development of the city water supply and referred to the proposed lower Nihotupu development scheme, which, he said, had beetj approved by a number of expert authorities. He said he was of opinion that the Waitakere scheme provided Auckland with water more cheaply than Jvoul4 have been the case if supplies had been obtained from any other source.