REMODELLING SEWERAGE SCHEME

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12657, 10 January 1912, Page 8

REMODELLING SEWERAGE SCHEME

REDUCING THE PUMPING. BOROUGH ENGINEER'S PROPOSALS ADOPTED. A special report on tlie sewerage, now m the course of construction, was submitted to the Borough Council last night, and embodied some important departures from the original scheme. The report was as follows : — An inspection of the levels of the various areas or systems now under construction, or still to construct, has resulted m the following facta being brought out with such force thut it will be necessary for you to consider them before much more work is done. Kaiti system: As will be seen from the accompanviug plan m the low portion lying north of the Esplanade, and for which a small septic tank is provided, the present houses, with the exception of five, can be connected with the main Kaiti gravity system. If these five houses were raised sufficiently so that the sewerage would gravitate, and an order made preventing building m the remaining section below the sewer level, this tank could be cur out, The Council might also construct conveniences for these residents at the new level, and leave the houses intact. This area must m tho near future be more a business locality than residential. Therefore. I have to recommend the elimination of the septic tank, estimated to cost £400, and the second method of dealing with the five low King bouses is estimated to cost £150. Old Borough No. 1 contract: The major portion of the Borough lying north of Chiiders road, between Carnarvon street and Roebuck road is higher than the sewerage level m the Stanley road tank, and by rearranging the levels *of the Disraeli street and Palmerston road sewers it would be possible to bring the sewage from the area colored on tlie accompanying plan, to A manhole at the junction of Chiiders and Disraeli, streets at such a level that a 12in. main laid across the Waikanae at the position shown, would carry it by gravity to the tank. It would then be possible to connect, tlie rising main from the Derby street pump to this system, and save the double pumping of this" sewage at Grey street, and efficient flushing could be provided by connecting the school baths outlet, properly controlled as to quantity. The advantages of this alteration m reducing the duty of both Stanley and Grey streets pumping stations will warrant the extra cost of the alterations. Victoria township: The gravitation main before mentioned will dominate that portion of Victoria township west of the leading lights and the Roberts road pumping station, and should be moved to the corner of Grey and Awapnni roads, so that a rearrangement of the sewers m the eastern portion of Victoria township .would save a possible £250. This station would then be m such a position that the Grey street system sewage, already reduced by cutting out the Derby street effluent, would gravitate to it. The five inch pumps could be installed here, and the three inch pumps used elsewhere. Considerable saving will result m electricity power cables and , annual pumping charges, for No. 1 pump instead of No. 2 m this locality, while the value of the steel pumping main cut out would offset the stoneware sewer necessary to connect the two stations. West End: In this system there is a 12in. sewer m private property, which will be a costly undertaking, and I have to advise that the portion of this system not dominated by the Stanley road sewer just laid be arranged to flow into n gravity main running north and south as shown on the accompanying plan; The alterations are more a matter of position than either size and length. The low portion lying immediately on each side of the railway at present- unsubdivided or built on is dominated by the Stanley road pump, and can be .drained after roads are made. Tramway access will cause the area lying north of Chiiders road, and between Stanley and Lytton roads, to bo subdivided and heavily populated, and the elimination of this present and future drainage from the Stanley road pump will reduce . present working costs and increase the period before the maximum duty is reached. Cr Darton asked how r the Council stood with the consulting engineer. Could they scrap his original proposals? Councillors remarked that the consulting engineer had been paid all that was owing to him. It was pointed out that the consulting engineer had given his personal guarantee as to the scheme, and if they departed from it they might be reflecting upon his ability. Cr 'Smith pointed out that they had already departed from the original scheme by inserting extra manholes, etc., and tluit even were the scheme adhered to they could not claim on the consulting engineer if it had proved defective. The Mayor said he had looked upon the fact that they had done with the consulting engineer. Cr Darion said he wanted to have the matter settled. This was the first proposal to depart from the original scheme. The Mayor : I did not know that any councillor had any idea that we were still under any obligation to the consulting engineer. Cr Darton asked what position the Council would be m with the property owners if they, for instance, adopted the Borough Engineer's proposal, cut out the small septic tank m the. low-lying area at Kaiti and caused the property owners to raise their conveniences. After some discussion Cr Darton moved, that the report be adopted. Cr Smitli seconded the motion. Cr Bright suggested that the Council should ascertain its position, particularly m respect of the property owners mentioned. It was ultimately agreed to adopt the Borough Engineer's recommendation re Kaiti, subject to the approval of property owners. Discussing the recommendations as to old borough section, Cr Darton asked whether the proposal represented any alteration of sewers. The Borough Engineer said no sewers affected had gone m. Cr Darton said he did not profess to be an engineer, but if the Borough Engineer had evolved a scheme whereby they^ could avoid pumping and adopt gravitation then it was their duty to adopt it. He moved m that direction, subject to the necessary arrangements being made with the contractors. Cr Wade enquired as to the matter of flushing, which was explained by the engineer. . Tho Mayor said that it was an engineering subject, and they would have to rely on their engineer' Cr Bright asked whether, if the proposed alteration did not work, could they revert to pumping.? The Engineer explained that it would be possible to do so with comparatively little expense. The motion was carried. The proposals respecting the Victoria township area were discussed,, and a similar resolution was carried m this instance. Cr. Smith said the Borough Engineer was to be commended for the interest lie was taking m the- matter, and the proposals he had brought forward to save money for the Borough. mHe pointed out that the Engineer might have carried out the original scheme, and any defect m the same might have been shouldered on to the consulting engineer, but m this jnstance he was personally taking the responsibility. CV. Bright asked if this was a comprehensive report on the proposed alterations. The Engineer said it was a comprehensive report, although there were several other minor alterations. The recommendations respecting the West End were also unanimously approved of. Cr. Darton urged that as the Borough Engineer had a further idea that the construction of another sewer m Stanley road at a higher level would eliminate the whole of the Stanley road pump- ! ing— that should also be adopted. The matter was Jeft to the Borough Engineer.