TAINTED WATER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21411, 8 February 1933, Page 10

TAINTED WATER

LAKE PUPUKE SUPPLY NORTH SHORE COMPLAINTS "NO NEED FOR ALARM" CAUSE OF TROUBLE FOUND 'A great deal of concern at the state of tho North Shore water supply, which is drawn from Lako Pupuke, has been expressed recently by residents of tho northern boroughs, and many of them in tho past few days have preferred to obtain their supplies from wells. Some, indeed, are stated to have brought jars to tho city so as tg secure drinking and cooking water from tho city supply. ■i'he water from Lake Pupuke, which EUpplies Devonport, Takapuna, Northcote and Birkenhead, has been characterised lately by an objectionable taste and odour. In some cases it has been discoloured, The boiling of the water merely accentuates tho disagreeable symptoms, and clothes washed in it retain traces of the odour, which also is discernible on they face and hands after washing. Residents havo complained that they have had to forgo their daily bath. "./• Pilgrimage To Well A well in Church Street, Devonport, has been tho scene of a daily pilgrimage by/ residents in search of an untainted supply. Other wells on the North Shore aro also being used, as even tea made direct from the Lako Pupuke supply retains an offensive taste and odour. Thoso residents who have rainwater tanks on their property have used this source for their domestic supplies, and it was reported yesterday that at least one resident had had a tank specially installed because of the taint in the borough water.

Several residents of the North Shore telephoned to the Herald office yesterday complaining about the state of the water. One, a woman, said she had found a temporary solution of the difficulty by straining the. water through cotton wool. Since adopting this, means, she had been able 1 joy a ..cup of tea. Unstrained watei had even . tainted vegetables . cooked in it. A good procedure for. straining was to the cotton wool in a wire coffee strainer and let the water run through. The Mayor of Devonport, Mr. H. F. W. Meikle, who is also chairman of the North Shore Water Board, said yesterday that there was no need for alarm as he had received assurances that the water was not injurious. The trouble became apparent about five weeks ago, and investigations had been carried on ever since by the Devonport borough engineer, Mr. A.. T. Griffiths, and officers of the Health Department. :

" Not Injurious to Health "

Qn Monday the lake was inspected by Dr. M. H. Watt, Director-General of Health, Dr. T. J. Hughes, medical officer of health at Auckland, and borough officials. Dr. Watt had stated definitely that, whatever the cause of the odour, the water was' not injurious to public health. Tests of the lake had been made to a depth of 170 ft., said Mr. Meikle. He considered the cause of the trouble had been discovered and he was sure it would be cuVed. A certain taint of fish was caused by a crustacean which lived in the lake. When it .reached maturity it emitted a gas. It was to be regretted that many years ago water plants had been put into the lake. Some of them now had Etem3. 30ft. long, with leaves floating on the surface., .

As far as Devonport was concerned proposals for the installation of an aeration plant, which would involve running the water over a spillway in sunlight after 'chlorination, would be submitted to the Devonport Borough Council at a meeting this evening. If the council thought this a; remedy it would be _ adopted. In the meantime 'every preparation was being made forsuch a scheme, which, however, would remove only the odour. Question of Consulting Experts

The question of making the water more palatable was an engineering one. The Water Board would probably meet this week, and the matter of referring the problem to experts would be considered. He had received instructions from the health officer that water drawn from underground sources should be boiled, and he had posted notices at these places accordingly. The. present trouble showed the necessity. of .considering a supply for the future. Pupuke,- which supplied 22,000 people,-including 11,000 at Devonport and 6500 at Takapuna, had fallen from its highest known level of 15ft. 6in. to mean sea level. Since Christmas it had fallen 18in. Tests were taken each. day. The residents had shown great forbearance and patience since the trouble commenced. Mr. J. Guiniven, Mayor of Takapuna, said he was of opinion that the only remedy was filtration. The inconvenience and discomfort experienced by North Shore residents owing to the contamination of Lake Pupuke water was a very strong argument in favour of the complete amalgamation of the four marine boroughs. Mr. C. Mills, Mayor of Birkenhead, »aid that although complaints had been made in his borough the position there was not so serious as in Devonport and Takapuna, owing to the higher altitude of the district.