WAIKATO WATER SUPPLY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22444, 13 June 1936, Page 17

WAIKATO WATER SUPPLY

Sir, —The necessity for'an adequate and satisfactory water supply is again brought before the notice of the general public by the serious position the people of Manurowa arc placed in. This is further evidence that a big scheme designed to adequately supplv the requirements of the Waikato and Auckland districts with pure water should lie undertaken without further delay. When the Water Hill was submitted to the last Parliament definite facts and figures were certified to by the promoters. It was pointed out that Ihe cost of the first instalment of the pipe line and reservoir would allow water to be sold on a consumption of 10,000,000 gallons per day at Gd per .1000 gallons and for J5,000,00C gallons per day at -Id per 1000 gallons. which would meet the requirements of the farming and industrial areas. One important factor which has a bearing on a water scheme is the cost of a dam or dams, and in the case of the Waikato supply the Arapuni Lake and dam provides the foundation of this great scheme. The first instalment will cost £602,000 and will fully provide water at tho low prices mentioned. After allowing for the completed cost of tho scheme to Arapuni and provision fgr a sinking fund for the extinction of the cost of dams in the Waitakere, there will still bo no necessity to increase tho cost of water to the consumers. Arapuni Lake is approximately 38.5 j'eet above sea level and there is a 10,000,000-gallon flow every three and a-half minutes over the dam. Here is cheap water in abundance, onf.y waiting for tho definite action of the local bodies to take immediate action. The opportunity should not be allowed to pass for the local bodies to make a determined effort to carry out tho definite recommendations of the Parliamentary committee when reporting on the Water Bill. E. H. Pott Kit.