WASTE OF WATER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22866, 22 October 1937, Page 14

WASTE OF WATER

USE OF GARDEN HOSES EFFECT OF DRY SPELL The unusual spell of dry weather is having its effect on city and suburban gardens and many householders have already made liberal use of their garden hoses to preserve their lawns and flower beds. This activity has not escaped the notice of the inspectors of the City Waterworks Department and a number of householders have been warned against leaving unattended hoses for any lengthy period. The waterworks engineer, Mr. A. D. Mead, said that it had been noticed that many people were making more use of the hose than, they were entitled to do under their garden hose permit. Where this had been noticed by the inspectors the offenders had been advised to obtain a sprinkler permit. While this involved the payment of an extra charge it allowed the holder to leave the water running while ho worked elsewhere in the garden, but it did not permit of the sprinkler being left on all night or for lengthy periods while the occupiers were away from the house. There was still plenty of water in the reservoirs in the Waitakere Ranges, said Mr. Mead, but in the residential suburbs there was a great deal of garden hosing going on. It was found that at night this created a very high peak demand on the distribution mains, m many cases amounting to several times their capacity. He said>that the council (\ould not bo expected to go to the expense of providing mains for water that was going to be wasted, and householders were merely asked to make reasonable use of the supply. POSITION AT MANUREWA HASTENING RESERVOIR SCHEME An acute shortage of water for domestic purposes} due to the unseasonable dry spell, was reported to the Manurewa Town Board, when it was stated that emergency supplies were being distributed by tanks on a motor-lorry. Pending the completion of the town district water scheme, which is being carried out by a large auxiliary staff at a cost of about £22,000, the residents are dependent upon house tanks. Mr. J. H. Edwards said that three men and a motor-lorry were engaged daily delivering emergency supplies at a charge of 6s for a 400-gallon tank. He suggested it would be cheaper to give the supplies free on condition that residents arranged their own transport. The foreman stjid supplies could bo drawn from a lire hydrant at Hill Road. It was decided to adopt this course.