SUVA’S WATER SUPPLY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11171, 29 March 1922, Page 2

SUVA’S WATER SUPPLY

A DANGEROUS SITUATION. ONLY HALF-DAY’S SUPPLY’. • SUVA, March. .21. For some time the “Fiji Times” has been warning the Government and people of the me nape hanging over Suva because of the condition, of her water euipply. It remained for the Commissioner of Works (Mr W. B. Lees), who recently came from Ceylon and who is a .very able engineer, to make vue situation so clear that people are ‘ ‘sitting up” ha alarm ait the prospect of calamity wnich is facing them, a- prospect much more serious than the fear of a hurricane.

The supply, while excellent in its Way, is faulty, because the damp climate has played havoc with the mains, and because there is no provision for any extraordinary happening such- as a doudibur&t at the intake or a landslide, or a month's drought. The present reservoirs hold only about half a day’s supply in reserve. Mr Lees has just made tho following vary alarming statements:—“That less water is being delivered to-day than in 1904, because of leaky mains; that there is only half a day’s'reserve; that in the event of a big (fire there would be no water awailabile to put it out; arn-cl that im the event of a cloudburst or landslide at the head of the system Suva would fed without any waiter at all. He had made a full report on the situation to the Government, and urged the excavation in' the solid soaipgtone of a reservoir capable o-f containing a month’s supply. “As our sewerage system is wholly dependent on a-liiboral supply of water it can bo easily imagined how quickly trouble would ensue in -the sanitary service, and in a climate like Suva’s a stoppage of the sewerage system would mean a, terrible pestilence. It is hoped that tho Governor, who arrives from England on Saturday, will bringAa big loan with him to enaiblo the work to be undertaken, as the oolony’s finances at pvcßont cannot provide the necessary funds.” N