GISBORNE WATER SUPPLY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18551, 10 November 1934, Page 4

GISBORNE WATER SUPPLY

PREPARING FOR SHORTAGE TESTING FOR BORES DOUBLE PIPE LINE URGED Means of overcoming any possible shortage of water in Gisborne during a dry period were discussed at a meeting of the Gisborne Fire Hoard yesterday afternoon, when representatives of the Borough Council waited on the board , During the discussion it was stated that the duplication of the pipe line to Tuumnta Hill reservoir would ensure a Mow of water at fire-fighting pressure, even if Te Arai were cut off. It was agreed, however, that in the event of a dry spell leaving insufficient water at Te Arai to feed the Taurnata Hill reservoir, investigations should he made regarding the prospects of securing water front underground sources. Already some underground streams had been divined, it- was stated, and it was only a matter of confirming reports and making tests. There were present at the board meeting .Messrs. It. K. Bree, chairman, 11. R Forster, F. G. 11. Henderson and John Jackson, together with the superintendent-, Mr. J. Kane. Mr. Jackson also appeared in his capacity as Mayor when discussing the subject, and with him were Cr. D. S. Thompson, the borough engineer, Mr. EUR. Thomas, and the town clerk, Mr. W. M. Jenkins. : LOAN PROPOSED In opening the discussion, the Mayor said that the operation of Taurnata Hill would not- be satisfactory until the second line of pipes was installed, one line reserved so that- the reservoir could he continuously filled and another to feed the town, with a constant- pressure. The only course, he added, was to approach the ratepayers for a loan of £6OOO or €7OOO to complete the project as originally proposed. Then the borough would require some assurance from the insurance companies that a reduction in the premiums would bo given. When that assurance could lie secured the council could confidently go to the ratepayers to sanction an' additional loan. To secure the full pressure from Taninata Hill, tho Mayor added, it would be necessary to out off the Te Arai supply, when pressure was low, or the Taurnata pressure would go up the Te Arai line. The borough engineer said that from Taurnata Hill they could maintain ft static pressure- of 961 b, whereas under the recent trial, after Te Arai was cut down to 361 b, the pressure from Taumata rose to only 651 b, which was insufficient for fire-fighting purposes.

HRE BOARD’S FEARS Xhe chairman said that tho board feared that if the water were shut off in the borough, it would not be long before all the mains would be empty. It would not be safe if the town were to be left’ in such a state, for it would take the, pressure too long to rise on tho discovery of a tire. . The borough engineer said he did not think., there would be any fear on that score. There would be always sufficient wate* at Tauinata Hill for firefighting ' purposes. The difficulty would be in securing sufficient water at Te Arai. With a second pipe line, the water from Te Arni would bs flowing into Tauinata all tho time, and if a serious position arose tho town supply could-be entirely cut off so as to fill the Taumata reservoir. The superintendent said that at the Garrison Hall fire, which was one ot' the largest of recent, years, the brigade used 20,000 gallons of water, whiOh was Used only intermittently to protect surrounding property, because the fire was beyond control, ami the directing of water on to the fire itself would have been of no avail. In reply, to further questions, the borough engineer said that so long as there \yas any pressure at nil in the town, it would bo possible to quickly boost it up to a fairly high level. In one minute in a recent test, the,pressure was raised from.7lb to iifiib., and five minutes later to 601 b. Seldom was the pressure down to the low point that occurred during the test. The only factor which would bring' the pressure down to a minimum was break in the line. The chairman said that that possibility must bo considered. 'The enginocr; That is all the more reason for a second pipe line. •The chairman: And will it cost £6OOO or £7OOO for' the pipe line? The' engineer: That estimate is on old prices. •‘• 500,000 GALLONS FOR FIRE • ■ LIGHTING. in anSuci to questions, tho engineer said that To Aral be always \ feeding the Taumata reservoir, and 50p,0U0. gallons would be reserved for tire-fighting. An electrically-control-led valve could quickly provide the necessary supply. The chairman, replying to the Mayor’s comment regarding insurance rates, said that Gisborne was rated already on the assumption tnat it had an adequate and reliable fire-fighting supply, and it had not got that. If tlife double pipe line .was laid to .Taumata Hill, the supply ’ would be brought up only to what it Should be, under the present premiums. Or; Thompson said that lie was under the impression that if a better supply was provided, ihere would be a reduced tariff. The chairman replied that the Waihirere- Rupply would give an even better supply, and with this Gisborne’s supply would be made -equal to those in the cities. He could not speak with authority on what the insurance companies wquld do if a request were made for a further reduction ill the rates in the event of a double line being installed to Taumata Hill. He was glad to have the assurance that, if Te Arai failed, Taumata would give sufficient water to fight a fire, but unaer certain circumstances it might nob do that. 1 The borough engineer said that the council had already repaired two leaks and had Taumata Hill in operation. The chairman said he recognised the advantage of Tauinata Hill. In the event of Te Arai failing, would the Taumata Hill supply be turned on? The engineer replied in the affirmative, and said that as soon as a gang went out to repair a leak on the main line, Taumata Hill was now turned'on. There would be a complete break only in the event of earthquake. UNDERGROUND SUPPLIES The .chairman: Has the council taken any 'steps' to fill Taumata Hill by artesian wells? .. The engineer: No. The - chairman, replying to the Mayor, said that there were underground streams in certain parts of the town,, and' it might be cheaper to tap .these and pump water from them than to"spend £6OOO or £7OOO on a double pipe line. The engineer said that that would depend a lot on the quantity of watci available. The Mayo aid that a .-uggestior had -been made that a supply ut the old Tnruheju freezing works site'might be used to augment the borough supply. It might, be pumped, for instiujcC, into t''o Taumatn reservoir. The chairman said tint.: the board had placed a certain sum on its osti mates to make a thorough investigation into tho possibilities of bores, and was willing to co-opcrate with the Borough Council in the matter. When the question of insurance premiums was again raised, the chair-man-suggested that the Borough Clour cibjsbould produce the best state of .Tvhich it could, and then the iinsuranec companies would consider the matter. The citizens had their Wii responsibility, for there was a great deal of uninsured property in the town, and there were also Josses in trade while fire-damaged premises were being renewed. The superintendent said that not more than three-fifths of the property . in the town was insured. Tito chairman said that last year buildings in which fires occurred wore -insured at £28,000, the value above the insurance, being £1.1,000. . -The criirmnn snid that there had bbdu sc-■‘fif’ogreswivr, decrease in prem- • k<'o,s h C'shoVee, sometimes in the .Jui-ms .of bonuses. The board would .:g, r &c . the. council all the help possible • to'-develop underground water sup- • pHes. 'bit-was' decided that water diviners sh'nnl'd agree on the existence of ‘vt'hfer, and then the supply could be tested.