LOSS OF WATER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22240, 15 October 1935, Page 5

LOSS OF WATER

NEW LYNN BOROUGH SOUNDINGS TO BE TAKEN A loss of water through leakage in the mains was referred to by the engineer, Mr. B. McKenzie, in a report to the New Lvnn Borough Council last night, and the council decided that sounding tests should be made to locate the leakages.

The report, which covered the period of six months ended September 31, stated that-the amount of water bought from the City Council was 15,220,000 gallons at a cost of £BB2, the amount consumed according to meter readings being 10,500,000. Water unaccounted lor amounted to 4,720,000 gallons, representing a 31 per cent loss, or £275. The loss, it was stated, appeared to be of a longstanding nature and it would be necessary for sounding tests to be made. Although the loss seemed to be a tremendous amount, it was equivalent to the amount discharged by an ordinary three-quarter inch tap running full bore. As there were 18 miles of mains with 690 joints to the mile, there was a considerable chance of the loss not being in one leak', but spread over the whole system. During the period of the completed installation ol meters the returns for water exceeded the cost by about 22} per cent. Mr. McKenzie said that in an Auckland borough which had one of the most up-to-date systems the loss was 17 per cent. Sounding methods were used to locate leaks and it had taken seven years to locate a loss of 4 per cent.

Tlio eneineer's report was adopted and the Works Committee was asked to make monthly reports on the progress.