WATER WASTAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23859, 9 January 1941, Page 8

WATER WASTAGE

EASTERN SUBURBS CITY COUNCIL'S APPEAL LOCAL SUPPLY PROBLEM A special appeal to Remuera and Tamaki residents to refrain from excessive use of water was made yesterday by the town clerk, Mr. J. Melling, on behalf of the City Council. In particular, he asked that garden hoses and sprinklers be not used after 8 p.m. until further notice *and that waste be avoided at all times. Mr. Melling explained that the appeal was not due to any shortage of water at the sources of supply in the Waitakere Ranges, but solely to distribution difficulties affecting the large area served from the high-level reser- | voirs on Mount Hobson. These reseri voirs, he said, at present supplied not only residential consumers in Remuera and Tamaki, but also the freezing works in the Westfield district. The latter's consumption had greatly increased of late through accelerated production for war purposes. It was also evident that residential consumption had become excessive in the present dry weather. Observations of the water level in the reservoirs the previous night had shown that they failed to refill, the draw-off being equal to the inflow. This clearly indicated that many hoses and sprinklers had been left on all night. The City Council had gone as far as it could with the laying of an additional feeder main to supply Westfield independently of the Mount Hobson reservoirs, but the work was held up at present until the last mile of pipes could be obtained. If residents co-operated in economising water, Mr. Melling concluded, it would be possible to allow the continued use of garden hoses. On the other hand, if the present known wastage persisted, the only course open to the council would be to ban the use of hoses. WARNING AT HAMILTON NIGHT-LONG USE OF HOSES [from our own* correspondent] HAMILTON, Wednesday Through wastage of water by Hamilton residents in hosing their gardens at night, the daily draw-off was reaching a volume that might force the imposition of restrictions, said the Hamilton borough engineer, Mr. R. Worlev, to-day. On many days during the recent dry spell the use of water had exceeded the reservoir's capacity of 2,600.000 gallons, and it was expected that peak consumption would be reached after many residents had returned from holidays. On Monday 2,650.000 gallons of water were used in the borough's domestic supply and 200.000 gallons in the industrial supply. If restrictions were to he avoided, Mr. Worley added, residents would have to exercise even more care when the peak was reached. An important economy could be effected by refraining from the night-long use j of garden hoses.