WESTFIELD WATER

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24216, 6 March 1942, Page 6

WESTFIELD WATER

LABGE NEW SUPPLY COUNCIL APPROVES PLAN SEVEN MILES OF PIPING To cope with the greatly increased consumption of water in the Westfield industrial area, the Auckland Gitv Council decided last evening to proceed immediately with the purchase of three miles of 15-inch pipe, and a further four miles subject to a satisfactory contract being entered into for a contribution to the cost on behalf of Westfield interests. Tho waterworks engineer reported that, since the beginning of the year, tho demand had exceeded the capacity of the pipeline supplying Westfield causing some curtailment of operations. This season's peak demand had been abnormal, owing to a cold spring delaying the growth of lambs, so that heavy killings did not start until Christmas instead of in November. Industry tried to cope with it by working six days a week and long hours, which prevented the Hamlin's Hill reservoir from filling up during the weekends. At a recent conference, representatives of slaughtering interests had asked for amount of water totalling with the requirements of other consumers in the a«rea —2,400,000 gallons daily. A 15-inch direct gravity main from the Khyber Pass reservoir would deliver 2,200,000 gallons a day, which, with the existing pipe, would give a sufficient margin. The estimated cost was between £36,000 and £40,000. An immediate start would be necessary to have the extra supply by next season. "It would be unfair, tho report continued, "to ask city ratepayers to bear the cost of this, and there should he a substantial subsidy, either from the industry or from tho State. I consider a capital subsidy would be preferable to guaranted revenue, as it might be difficult to find £40,000 from the annual account. Industrial representatives also expressed considerable doubt as to the continuance of some of the special uses of water after the war and were unwilling to commit themselves to further guarantees of consumption. The engineer recommended ordering New Zealand pipe and two miles of Australian pipe to start the portion from the Harp of Erin, pending a decision on the major scheme. The report was adopted by the council with the reservation that the purchase of the final four miles of pipe should be contingent on a satisfactory arrangement for Westfield interests to meet a proportion of the cost of the scheme. NORTH SHORE SUPPLY CITY PURCHASES MAINS Involving about £4400. an agreement to purchase from the Devonport Borough Council two and a-quarter miles of 12in. water-main and one and a quarter miles of Sin. main was confirmed by the Auckland City Council last night. The council's Works Committee reported on the negotiations for the purchase of portions of the pumping-mams from Lake Pupuke to the various North Shore boroughs, which were being rendered obsolete and could be incorporated in the city water system. Terms had already beeji agreed on with Birkenhead and Northcote.