WATER DEMAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22941, 20 January 1938, Page 12

WATER DEMAND

CONSUMPTION IN CITY RECORD ESTABLISHED • HIGH DAILY AVERAGE AMPLE SUPPLY IN STORAGE The average daily consumption of water in the Auckland city area during the past week of consistently hot and dry weather has touched peaks never beforo experienced in Auckland, but the amount of water held in storage in the great dams in tho Waitakere Ranges is such that even if the present weather prevailed for the next three months and citizens continued to draw on tho supply in the samo measure there would bo no danger of a .water shortage.

For the past week tho average daily consumption has been in tho region of 113,000,000 gallons, which has exceeded the previous peak draw-off by approximately 1,500,000 gallons. Tho average daily consumption for November was over 0,500,000 gallons, but in the hot and dry spell just beforo tho holiday period this had crept up by about two million gallons a day. It was thought that this would about represent tho maximum demand for the summer, but as the days became hotter and gardens and lawns dried up greater uso was made of hoses until the city waterworks department's master meters showed a daily demand of approximately 13,000,000 gallons. With a continuation of the present dry weather this total may even be exceeded, but no shortage in the supply is feared. Normally the four dams in the ranges hold 1,570,000,000 gallons and yesterday, even after the steady drain, which has continued practically from early November, the storage in the hills totalled 1,286,000,000 gallons. This with an average daily draw-off of 13,000,000 gallons, would ensure a supply for 99 days. Although the position is in every way satisfactory Town Hall officials stated yesterday that they relied on tho good sense of the consumers not to waste water.

WILSON HOME SUPPLY REDUCTION IN TARIFF MADE A letter asking the Takapuna Borough Council whether it could give a special tariff for the supply of water to the Wilson Home for Cripple Children or whether it would object to the home's obtaining its water supply from the Devon port Borough Council, was discussed at a meeting of the Takapuna Council last nignt. The Mayor, Mr. J. Guiniven, considered that a reduction in the rates should not be made, but that the home should be permitted, if it wished, to obtain water from Devonport. He said the council had foregone £3OO a year in rates and he did not thirik it should risk anv loss in water rates. The home had a large consumption of water, the mayor added, and very prpbnbly it would increase to a great extent in the future. Ho moved that the home should be informed that no reduction could be made by the council, but that permission would be granted, if desired, for the home to obtain water from Devonport. Mr. W. M. White moved as an amendment that the council, if it could legally do so, should reduce the water rate to the Wilson Home by 3d a 1000 gallons, which would represent £5 a year. If any income could be obtained from the home this should be done, while it would assist the home at the same time. The amendment was carried.