WATER SHORTAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22433, 1 June 1936, Page 11

WATER SHORTAGE

POSITION AT MANUREWA NO RETICULATED SUPPLY TOWN BOARD PROPOSALS A shortage of water for domestic purposes is being experienced by residents in the Manurewa town district and the Town Board has had to arrange for emergency supplies being delivered by motor-lorry from a bore on the bowling club's property. There is no reticulated supply in the district and supplies for domestic and farming purposes are obtained from housetanks, which store rainfall, and semiartesian bores operated by. machinery or windmill.

Complaints of a shortage were brought to the notice of the town board last week, when many residents found themselves with only a few gallons of water in their tanks. "We have been caught napping by the abnormal dry spell," stated a resident yesterday. Residents were usually on guard during the summer months, continued the resident, when there was a likelihood of dry weather for several weeks. The experience in January and February of last year was still fresh in.the minds of residents, who suffered an acute water shortage for about 10 weeks. In winter monthn the absence of a reticulated supply did not unduly alarm residents, but the recent dry spell had been another lesson to be observed in a non*-reticulated district. Absence of Wind Power Several farmers were also having to conserve water supplies, stated another resident with a small herd. Wind power had also been lost during the past three weeks and, although many bores were full of water, it coujd not be pumped by the windmills. The question of a reticulated water supply has been the subject of considerable controversy for a number of years in Manurewa. In May, 1928, a proposed scheme was the subject of a comprehensive report submitted to the cown board by its consulting engineer. Two schemes were considered, the first at a total estimated cost of £28,121 and the other to cost £22,010. A supplementary report suggested that by the deletion of certain items the cost of No. 2 scheme could be reduced to £15,182. The supplies under both schemes were proposed to be drawn from two bores on the town board's reserve in Hill Road. Opposition to Scheme The schemes were not proceeded with and it was not until last year that fresh proposals wore considered. These proposed to obtain supplies from the Papakura Town Board's head works at Hunua. The scheme was submitted to the Board of Health and _ a request made for the issue of a requisition calling upon the township to reticulate the district. Considerable opposition was raised by the Manurewa Ratepayers' Association and the town board was advised that the scheme was not approved. A similar application was made to the Minister of Health, Hon. P. Fraser, in March last, after the board had adopted a scheme for the reticulation of the district at an estimated cost of £15,000. Plans were prepared bv the board's engineer, Mr. R P. Worley, and the Board of Health was again asked for an order to proceed with the scheme. No reply has so far been received by the town board.